A coordinated international investigation into online fraud operations in West Africa has resulted in millions of social media accounts being removed, dozens of arrests, and the rescue of more than 100 people allegedly forced to work in criminal scam compounds.
Meta announced on October 13 that it had joined 14 other technology companies and law enforcement agencies from multiple countries in an operation targeting criminal networks operating in Nigeria, Ghana and other parts of West Africa.
The crackdown led to the removal of more than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages and groups linked to suspected scam activity. Authorities also received intelligence on more than 30 suspected scam centres, while 28 people were arrested.
The operation marked the first coordinated effort of its kind to broadly target scam networks across West Africa, according to Meta.
117 Trafficking Victims Rescued in Ghana
Beyond disrupting online activity, the operation exposed the human cost behind some of the criminal enterprises.
Law enforcement officials rescued 117 people who had allegedly been trafficked and forced to work inside scam compounds in Ghana. Meta said the victims had been held against their will in a residential facility, where they suffered malnutrition and physical and psychological abuse.
The individuals accused of operating the compound were arrested and are facing prosecution, according to the company.
The findings highlight how some online fraud operations depend not only on deceiving victims abroad but also on coercing people into carrying out scams.
Millions of Accounts Targeted Victims Abroad
Meta said most of the accounts removed during the operation appeared to be targeting people in the United States and the United Kingdom. Many reportedly used profiles designed to impersonate American and British users.
Microsoft also suspended accounts suspected of being connected to the criminal activity.
The investigation covered several fraud methods, including cryptocurrency investment schemes, romance fraud, fake job offers, task-based scams, impersonation of police and military personnel, fraudulent sales, and schemes that promise to recover money lost in previous scams.
In some investment schemes, criminals reportedly establish fake romantic or professional relationships before persuading their targets to put money into fraudulent opportunities. Other operations exploit job seekers with fabricated employment offers or demand advance payments for supposed online tasks.
Fraudsters also pose as law enforcement officials to intimidate people into handing over money, while recovery scams target individuals who have already lost funds by offering to retrieve the money in exchange for additional fees.
Coinbase Identifies More Than $415,000 in Potential Losses
Financial intelligence was another important part of the joint effort.
Coinbase identified more than 65 active scam victims and prevented potential losses exceeding $415,000, according to the operation's published results.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation also reported that the wider effort led to the seizure of hundreds of devices and the identification of at least $11 million in funds that could potentially be frozen.
Cybersecurity firms and other technology companies contributed intelligence on the digital infrastructure supporting the networks. Silent Push, for example, mapped more than 35,000 malicious domains and nearly 700 communication channels associated with scam centres operating across Africa.
The shared information helped investigators connect activity across online platforms, financial systems and national borders, giving authorities new leads on the people and infrastructure behind the schemes.
International Agencies Coordinate From London
The operation began on October 6, when the UK's National Crime Agency convened technology companies and international law enforcement partners at its headquarters in London.
Participating agencies included the FBI, the US Department of Justice, Homeland Security Investigations and other US federal bodies, alongside law enforcement representatives from Ghana, Nigeria, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India.
Technology companies involved included Meta, Coinbase, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Starlink and Adobe, among others.
Teams exchanged actionable intelligence to identify criminal activity at different stages, from recruiting people to operate scams and maintaining the digital infrastructure to identifying victims and tracking the movement of stolen funds.
Meta's vice president and deputy general counsel, Chris Sonderby, said the company had removed millions of accounts and shared information on suspected scam centres as part of the effort.
He said the company would continue working with law enforcement and industry partners to pursue fraud networks wherever they operate.
National Crime Agency deputy director of fraud Nick Sharp also stressed the importance of cross-border cooperation, noting that criminal groups can target victims internationally regardless of where they are based.
Meta Expands Its Campaign Against Online Fraud
The West African operation follows other enforcement actions involving Meta this year. The company previously contributed to police efforts targeting scam centres in Vietnam and Nigeria, with the combined actions resulting in the removal of more than five million Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The latest crackdown reflects a growing focus on dismantling criminal operations rather than relying exclusively on removing fraudulent content or responding after victims report losses.
Meta has an interest in reducing fraud across its services as it seeks to maintain user confidence in its platforms. That trust is also relevant to the company's efforts to expand its artificial intelligence offerings, which increasingly depend on people sharing information with its systems.
However, the broader challenge extends beyond any single platform. Scam operators can shift between services, disguise their identities and move money through complex financial networks, making cooperation between technology firms, investigators and financial institutions particularly important.
The companies involved say that sharing intelligence allows them to identify connections that might remain hidden when each organisation examines activity independently.
Meta and its partners are expected to continue using this model to disrupt scam infrastructure and help authorities pursue those responsible. The operation's results demonstrate the scale of coordinated enforcement, although sustained pressure will be needed to prevent criminal groups from rebuilding their networks or relocating to other regions.
Source: Meta
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