Meta Eradicates 63,000 Nigerian Accounts Linked to Sextortion Scams Targeting U.S. Men

Meta Platforms Inc. has announced the removal of approximately 63,000 Facebook accounts originating from Nigeria, which were involved in financial sexual extortion schemes aimed primarily at adult men in the United States.

The extensive crackdown reflects Meta’s ongoing efforts to combat the pervasive issue of online fraud and harassment.

In a statement released by Meta, the company revealed that the deleted accounts included a tightly coordinated network of around 2,500 profiles, all associated with a group of roughly 20 individuals.

This group utilized fake accounts to conceal their identities while targeting their victims.

The scams, known as “sextortion,” involve threats to release compromising photos, whether real or fabricated, unless the victims make payments to prevent the supposed release.

According to Meta, the majority of the sextortion attempts were thwarted, but the perpetrators also targeted minors. Meta has reported these incidents to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the U.S. for further investigation and action.

Meta’s initiative to tackle these scams involved the deployment of advanced technical signals specifically designed to detect and identify sextortion schemes. This technology played a crucial role in uncovering and removing the fraudulent accounts.

The issue of online fraud is not new, but the scale of these scams has been exacerbated by worsening economic conditions in Nigeria.

Scammers, often referred to as “Yahoo boys,” operate from various settings, including university dormitories, impoverished suburbs, and even affluent neighborhoods.

The term “419 scams” originates from a section of Nigeria’s penal code dealing with fraud, though it has historically been criticized for its ineffectiveness in curbing the problem.

The recent crackdown underscores a broader effort by social media platforms to address and prevent financial and sexual exploitation online.

Meta’s action is part of a growing movement among tech companies to enhance their defenses against digital fraud and safeguard users from exploitation.

This move by Meta also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by international law enforcement and technology companies in curbing cross-border cybercrime.

As online scams continue to evolve and adapt, the need for robust detection and prevention mechanisms remains crucial in protecting individuals from financial and emotional harm.

Meta’s removal of these accounts represents a significant step forward in the fight against sextortion and online fraud.

However, experts caution that the persistence of such scams necessitates continuous vigilance and collaboration between technology companies, law enforcement agencies, and international organizations to effectively combat and reduce the impact of these criminal activities.