As soon as Format Boy picks up the phone, his booming voice confirms his identity. For weeks I’ve been delving into his videos and voice notes. Unlike other influencers, he chooses to stay faceless and anonymous, avoiding motivational content and brand sponsorships. Instead, he educates followers on executing high-stakes online scams.
Format Boy, who has cultivated a following on platforms such as YouTube, Telegram, Instagram, and X, acts as an advisor to the notorious Yahoo Boys—predominantly young male fraudsters from West Africa. Their operations typically involve duping wealthy individuals, primarily Americans, out of their savings using various online schemes, including sophisticated deepfake technology. Recently, these scammers have leveraged AI to create deceptive fake news broadcasts to intimidate their victims into compliance.
Operating mainly from Nigeria, Yahoo Boys often spend weeks nurturing relationships with their victims before attempting to extract funds. While they might not always employ the most advanced tech, they are adept social engineers. Recent reports reveal that numerous victims across the US, UK, and other regions have lost substantial amounts of money, with some individuals tragically resorting to suicide following blackmail and sextortion.
Among their various lingo, victims are termed “clients,” and “bombing” refers to messaging numerous accounts to identify potential leads. Different "formats" exist for various scams, including romance cons, impersonations of police or FBI officials, and schemes that mimic high-profile figures like Elon Musk. An extensive collection of scripts used to execute these frauds is available online, one of which is titled “50 Questions to Ask Your Client as a Yahoo Boy.”
The Yahoo Boy lifestyle thrives on social media, where scammers flaunt luxury cars and opulent jewelry. Numerous groups openly promote mentorship for newcomers in the scam world, providing them with the skills and tools essential for perpetrating fraud.
Format Boy stands out as a prominent figure among these "scamfluencers." His posts attract the attention of cybercrime researchers monitoring Yahoo Boys. In one of his top YouTube videos, he declares, “I’m going to teach you guys exactly how to make a fake video call.” He emphasizes the importance of this skill for scams, as sometimes victims require visual proof before sharing sensitive information.
Active since around 2019, Format Boy initially used a basic phone to reach potential victims via dating sites. He subsequently pivoted to teaching others his methods and selling related tools. While he distances himself from actively scamming, he acknowledges that his content could enable others to break the law, which he openly admits.
Recently, he has lamented about his channels being repeatedly shut down on YouTube, affecting his audience growth. His main platform now is Telegram, where he shares notes and advice on building rapport with victims to access their bank details, along with promotional offers on deepfake technology. He suggests that scammers need to be determined and strategic for success.
Format Boy claims he refrains from teaching everything he knows, noting that many in Nigeria feel abandoned by the government. His videos often project optimism, and he encourages his followers to strive for success in challenging situations.
In navigating the unpredictable algorithms of social media, Format Boy has faced obstacles and created false accounts impersonating him. Nevertheless, he has continued to adapt. Recently, he revealed plans to shift focus to trading memecoins, indicating that he is always looking for new ways to hustle amid the complexities of his current endeavors.
