Influence of Parental Roles on Adolescents' Involvement in Internet Fraud in Ede Local Government of Osun State

Internet fraud has become a growing concern, particularly amongadolescents in Nigeria, driven by increased smartphone andinternet access with its detrimental effects on the society. Thisstudy explored how parental roles influence adolescents'involvement in internet fraud in Ede South Local Government,Osun State. A mixed-method approach was used, with datacollected from 250 adolescents aged 12-19 through multistage andsnowball sampling. The Parenting Roles and DimensionsQuestionnaire (PRDQ) was employed to assess parentalinvolvement, focusing on communication, rule-setting, andmonitoring of online activity. Descriptive and inferential statisticswere used for analysis. The findings revealed that active parentalinvolvement, including frequent communication about internetfraud risks and consistent monitoring, was associated with a lowerlikelihood of adolescents engaging in internet fraud. Conversely,permissive parenting, marked by minimal rules and enforcement,was linked to higher participation in fraud. The study thereforehighlighted the critical role of parenting in shaping adolescents'online behaviour. It stressed the importance of parentalengagement in fostering responsible internet use and protectingadolescents from online risks, calling for targeted educationalinitiatives to equip parents with effective strategies forsafeguarding their children in the digital age.