Examining the Research Gap in Dark Web Monitoring for Nigerian Financial Crime Intelligence

Dark web marketplaces and forums contain rich intelligence on financial fraud targeting Nigerian institutions and citizens, yet Nigerian financial intelligence and law enforcement agencies lack systematic dark web monitoring capabilities. This study examined this research gap through systematic review and expert consultation. A systematic scoping review of ten databases identified 89 publications from 2019 to 2024 on dark web intelligence for financial crime, of which zero were from Nigerian or West African contexts. Expert interviews with 20 financial intelligence professionals from NFIU, EFCC, and five commercial banks confirmed that no Nigerian institution had a systematic dark web monitoring programme, awareness of Nigerian-targeting dark web forum activity was absent in 75.0 percent of respondents, and available foreign dark web intelligence products did not cover Nigerian currency, banking systems, or vernacular terms for financial fraud. An exploratory dark web survey conducted by the research team identified 14 active forums and marketplaces explicitly listing Nigerian bank account credentials and card data for sale. The study identifies dark web intelligence collection methodology, Nigerian threat actor profiling, and dark web monitoring legal framework as the three highest-priority research needs. The study recommends NFIU establish a dedicated dark web financial crime monitoring unit with appropriate legal authorisation and engage INTERPOL's Financial Crimes unit for technical assistance.

Keywords: dark web monitoring, financial crime intelligence, NFIU, EFCC, Nigeria