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In the ever-evolving digital and economic landscape of 2025, more people are seeking fast ways to earn a living. While remote jobs and entrepreneurship are on the rise, so are illegal schemes disguised as legit opportunities. Many young people — out of desperation or ignorance — fall into traps that could land them in jail.

This post highlights 10 illegal jobs or activities you must avoid in 2025 — no matter how promising they seem. Always remember: If it sounds too easy or too good to be true, it probably is.

1. Yahoo Yahoo (Internet Fraud)

Despite years of warnings, internet fraud (popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo in Nigeria) still tops the list of illegal “jobs.” In 2025, cybercrime detection tools are even smarter, and many fraudsters are being traced through banking transactions, IP addresses, and social media.

What makes it illegal?
It involves deception, identity theft, and financial scams. Under cybercrime laws in most countries, offenders can face 5–20 years in prison.

2. Money Ritual / Spiritual Scams

Some fraudsters pose as “native doctors” or spiritualists online, promising wealth in exchange for rituals, sacrifices, or tasks. Others even collect money for fake rituals, duping desperate victims.

Why it’s illegal:
It’s a form of psychological fraud, often involving human rights violations, murder, or deception, and it’s punishable by law.

3. Online Ponzi and Pyramid Schemes

In 2025, new Ponzi schemes continue to rise, repackaged as “crypto investments,” “online savings plans,” or “peer-to-peer donations.” Once new users stop coming in, the platform crashes and people lose their money.

Legal consequence:
Running or promoting Ponzi schemes can attract up to 10 years in jail, depending on your country.

4. Drug Trafficking and Delivery ‘Jobs’

Some people are lured into transporting “goods” across borders or states, only to discover they’re carrying hard drugs or banned substances. Whether done knowingly or not, the law still applies.

Reality check:
Drug-related crimes carry severe penalties — including life imprisonment or death in some countries.

5. Hacking and Identity Theft Services

Some tech-savvy individuals offer “services” to hack emails, Facebook accounts, or even bank accounts. This may seem like a gig, but it’s a cybercrime.

Why it’s dangerous:
Hacking is illegal and considered a federal offense in many countries. You could be jailed and banned from using financial services.

6. Selling Fake Documents (Passports, Visas, Certificates)

In 2025, demand for fake travel documents, school certificates, and work permits has led to an underground market. But both the seller and buyer can face arrest.

Punishment includes:
Forgery, impersonation, and aiding fraud charges — often leading to 5–15 years in prison.

7. Loan App Harassment and Blackmail Jobs

Some unethical loan apps hire people to call, threaten, or shame customers who default. They go as far as sending edited pictures to a borrower’s contacts.

Legal impact:
Invasion of privacy, defamation, and digital blackmail are now punishable by law. Anyone working with such firms is also liable.

8. Organ Trafficking (Online or Offline)

There have been increasing reports of illegal organ sales through fake “health jobs” or “donation platforms.” Victims are often tricked or abducted.

This is a serious offense:
Trafficking human parts is a global crime, attracting life sentences or death penalties.

9. Fake Investment Platforms

These appear legitimate at first — promising quick returns from forex, crypto, agriculture, or real estate. Once enough people invest, the platform disappears.

Result:
Those who promote or create such platforms may be arrested and forced to pay back victims, along with facing criminal charges.

10. Scam Job Recruitment Agencies

Some fake “agencies” promise jobs abroad or in top companies after collecting money for “registration,” “training,” or “visa processing.” These jobs often don’t exist.

Legal consequence:
This is employment fraud. Authorities now track fake agencies and arrest owners for obtaining money under false pretenses.

 Be Smart, Not Sorry

The search for money in 2025 should never push you into crime. There are many legal ways to earn online and offline — from freelancing and affiliate marketing to digital skills and content creation. No matter how attractive an illegal job may look, remember: freedom is priceless.

Stay informed. Stay clean. Stay legal.

A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has sentenced a man, Saheed Babatunde, to eight calendar years imprisonment following his conviction on a two-count charge of theft and threat to life.

According to Dailypost report, the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Osun Amotekun Corps in connection with a series of criminal activities, including the theft of property and issuing life-threatening statements.

According to the prosecution led by Counsel, Oyedele Akintayo, representing the Attorney General of Osun State, Saheed Babatunde was arraigned on two counts bothering on stealing and threatening to kill.

The charge sheet said these acts are contrary to Section 390(9) and Section 86 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Olatunji M.A. detailed the charges as follows:

“Count One: That you, Saheed Babatunde ‘M’ and others now at large, on or about the 16th day of April, 2025, at Isale Osun, Osogbo in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did steal iron sheets, cooking pots, and other household items valued at a total of ₦500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), the property of one Ogundapo Azeez, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

“Count Two: That you, Saheed Babatunde ‘M’ and others now at large, on or about the same date and location, did unlawfully threaten to kill one Ogundapo Azeez, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 86 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.”

The court, after reviewing the facts of the case and the evidence presented, found the defendant guilty on both counts.

He was consequently sentenced to serve a total of eight years in prison.

The Federal Government on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the Bilateral Education Agreement, describing the scheme as a “waste of resources.”

The development followed cries by previous beneficiaries of the scheme who accused the government of neglect.

The BEA Programme, established through strong diplomatic ties and mutual cooperation, enabled Nigerian students to study in partner countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia.

Recently, the government clarified that all supplementary allowances due to Nigerian scholars had been paid up to December 2024.

It also appealed for patience, noting that additional funds had been requested to settle all outstanding entitlements affected by exchange rate fluctuations.

Despite this, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, on Tuesday, announced the government’s decision to discontinue the programme.

He expressed displeasure over what he described as the “blackmailing” behaviour of some scholars under the scheme on social media.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by newly elected officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Alausa said the government would redirect the funds toward domestic scholarship programmes that would benefit more students across the country.

“2024, when I assumed office, I was asked to approve N650 million for 60 students going to Morocco under the BEA programme. I refused. It’s not fair to Nigerian students.

“I reviewed the courses—some students went to Algeria, a French-speaking country, to study English, Psychology, and Sociology—courses we teach better in Nigeria.

“By the end of 2024, all outstanding scholarships will be cleared. The 2025 scholarships are pending due to the budget appropriation process. They will be paid in the coming months. However, we will not continue the programme beyond 2025,” the minister said.

Alausa criticised the lack of academic monitoring, noting that the government covers free annual travel for scholars without tracking their performance.

“In 2025 alone, the government planned to spend N9 billion on just 1,200 students. It’s unjust to spend such a huge amount sending students abroad to study courses available locally while millions of Nigerian students receive no support,” he stated.

He added, “We have evaluated every course these 1,200 students are studying abroad—every single one is available in Nigerian universities. We are cancelling the BEA. It is not the best use of public funds.

“That money will now be used to fund local scholarships and support more students.”

The minister assured all that current BEA beneficiaries would be allowed to complete their programmes, but no new admissions would be accepted under the arrangement from 2025 onward.

The family of Juju musician Sunday Adegeye, popularly known as King Sunny Ade, KSA, has dismissed rumours making the rounds about his disappearance, saying ” he is safe and sound.”

Recall that Damilola, one of the daughters of the singer, had taken to social media to raise alarm over their father’s disappearance, accusing her brother. Dayo, who doubles as their father’s manager of holding him in an undisclosed location against his will.

In a statement released on behalf of the family, Dayo dismissed the rumour, describing it as a “malicious” attempt to tarnish the legendary musician’s image.

“We want to assure the public that King Sunny Ade is safe and sound. There is no truth to the kidnapping rumor, and we are taking appropriate steps to address the situation and identify those responsible for spreading this false information.”

Adegeye reassured fans and well-wishers that “the King of World Beats, King Sunny Ade, has not been abducted or kidnapped by anyone.

“The Adegeye family and King Sunny Ade’s team are working diligently to put an end to the rumour and protect his reputation. The public can rest assured that King Sunny Ade is in good health and spirits, and his focus remains on his music and legacy.”

Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has taken a swipe at the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, claiming the former Anambra State governor lacks the moral right to talk about poverty in Nigeria.Nigerian home decor ideas

In a statement he personally signed, titled, “Factually Addressing Mr. Peter Obi’s Criticism of Nigeria at Johns Hopkins University,” Sanwo-Olu accused Obi of contributing to the current poverty in the country, and alleged that under his tenure as governor in Anambra State, poverty grew astronomically.

Recall that Obi was at the Johns Hopkins University last week and during his speech, drew a comparison between Nigeria, China and Vietnam in the area of poverty, stressing that Nigeria, with about 50 million poor people, had the least number of people in poverty in 1990 than any of the three countries.

“The question then is, what exactly did these countries do to be able to achieve the desired growth and development? That is where political leadership comes in.Nigerian home decor ideas

These comparable nations, and, indeed, other progressive nations, unlike Nigeria, have competent leadership with character, capacity and compassion, committed to prioritising investment in critical areas of developmental measures: education, health, and pulling people out of poverty.”he said

In his statement released on Sunday, Sanwo-Olu argued that Obi did not only de-market Nigeria by openly “denigrating” the country abroad, he also made statements that he had no moral standing to make.

“On Thursday, April 24, 2025, former Governor Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate for the 2023 election, was at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he made several disparaging comments about Nigeria.

He made unflattering remarks not just about the incumbent Nigerian government, but also about Nigeria. I also find Mr. Obi’s pattern of behaviour disturbing. When prominent Nigerians go overseas, they ought to project Nigeria positively.

They do not have to do that for the government. But we all owe a duty to market Nigeria on the global stage rather than de-market her. That is what true patriotism is about.”

Sanwo-Olu stated that because Obi focused on poverty and said the current administration’s policies were making Nigerians poorer, he will concentrate on that.

“Now, I find it somewhat ironic that a man like Mr. Obi, who did not build a single school or a stand-alone hospital throughout his eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra or sustainably provide credit facilities, would criticise the government of Nigeria, which is actively doing that.

I say this because the president of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is my predecessor, and as governor of Lagos and now President of Nigeria, has built over 200 schools and provided student loans to more than 200,000 undergraduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions.

In less than two years, he has provided over half a billion dollars in credit facilities to small and medium-scale enterprises.”

While he was governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, Sanwo-Olu said Tinubu reduced poverty by more than 46 per cent, and explained that there was every reason to believe that based on what he did as governor of Lagos, he will repeat the same feat at the federal level.

“After all, the best predictor of the future is the past,” he wrote.

The governor alleged, “But let us examine the messenger, not just the message, and look at the issuer as well as the issues. Mr. Obi talks a good game. But was he able to reduce poverty while he governed Anambra? Perhaps we can let the facts speak for themselves.

Under Peter Obi as a two term Anambra Governor, poverty in Anambra increased. It did not reduce. Before Peter Obi became Anambra Governor on Thursday, June 14, 2007, the poverty rate in Anambra was 41.4 per cent.

But after only two years in office, the poverty rate in Anambra jumped to 53.7 per cent. But the interesting thing is that five years after Peter Obi left office, his successor, Willie Obiano, reduced the poverty rate in Anambra from almost 60 per cent to 14.8 per cent.

As such, I am not sure that Mr. Obi is morally well placed to make the alarming claims he made about Nigeria at Johns Hopkins. Mr. Obi contributed to the increase in poverty in Nigeria. Governor Tinubu, as he then was, was responsible for lifting millions out of poverty. Being that that is the case, who should criticise who?”

The world is changing fast, and today’s kids are growing up surrounded by technology. But what if we told you that a 12-year-old could learn certain tech skills that might one day make them millions?
Yes, it’s very possible — with the right guidance, passion, and consistency.

Whether it’s coding, designing, or creating content, tech skills are opening doors to endless opportunities for young minds.  A 12-year-old can start learning now to build a successful future.

1. Coding and Programming

Learning how to code is like learning a superpower in today’s world. A 12-year-old can start with simple languages like Scratch or move up to Python, HTML, and JavaScript.

With coding, they can create websites, apps, games, and even start a tech company. Many successful teenage tech entrepreneurs started this way!

Tip: Free platforms like Codecademy, Khan Academy, and Coursera offer beginner-friendly coding courses.

2. Graphic Design

Children with an eye for art can turn creativity into big money. Learning graphic design software like Canva, Photoshop, or Adobe Illustrator can help them design logos, social media posts, websites, and more.

Many brands pay well for good designs — and a talented young designer can easily build a portfolio and start freelancing early.

3. Video Editing

YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram are video-driven platforms.  A 12-year-old who knows how to edit videos using tools like CapCut, iMovie, or Adobe Premiere Pro can offer services to influencers, businesses, and content creators.

Video editing is a high-paying tech skill that is always in demand.

4. App Development

If your child loves mobile apps, why not teach them to build one? Basic app development can be learned using platforms like MIT App Inventor or Thunkable. Later, they can advance to Android or iOS development using more complex languages like Swift or Java.

Building a successful app can be a game-changer — some kids have even built million-dollar apps!

5. Web Development

Learning how to build and manage websites is a priceless skill.
At 12, they can start with simple website builders like WordPress and later move to more advanced coding with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Freelancing as a web developer or even creating their own blog or online store can be highly profitable.

6. Digital Marketing

Understanding how to market products and services online is a powerful tool.
Kids can learn about social media marketing, email marketing, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and content creation.

Many small businesses are looking for fresh ideas and digital marketers — age is often not a barrier when skills are real!

7. 3D Modeling and Animation

Animation and 3D design are booming industries thanks to gaming, movies, and virtual reality. Using beginner-friendly software like Tinkercad or Blender, a 12-year-old can start learning 3D modeling.

This skill can lead to careers in gaming, movie production, virtual architecture, and more.

8. Game Development

If your child loves gaming, why not teach them to create their own? Learning platforms like Roblox Studio or Unity make it possible for young kids to design and sell games.

Some teenagers have made millions just by creating fun, engaging games!

9. Cybersecurity Basics

As the internet grows, so does the need for cybersecurity experts. Youngsters can start learning the basics of online safety, ethical hacking, and security awareness.

Later on, cybersecurity certifications can turn this into a high-paying career.

10. Content Creation (YouTube, Blogging, Podcasting)

Content is king in the digital world.
A 12-year-old who starts a YouTube channel, writes blogs, or creates a podcast around something they love can build an audience — and eventually monetize through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise.

The earlier they start, the better they get at storytelling and engaging audiences.

Today’s 12-year-olds have a golden opportunity — with just a laptop and internet connection, they can begin building skills that could eventually lead to massive success.

Encourage them to be curious, consistent, and patient. Learning tech skills is like planting a seed — with time and effort, it can grow into a mighty tree of opportunities.

The future is tech-driven, and age is no barrier to success anymore.