Meta says it has removed more than 3.7 million accounts, pages and groups from Facebook and Instagram, in a joint operation targeting scam networks operating in West Africa.
In a web post on Tuesday, Meta said the operation involved
14 other technology companies and law enforcement agencies from 10 countries.
The operation, coordinated by the UK’s National Crime Agency
(NCA) in partnership with the US Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) and other agencies, also led to the identification of more
than 30 suspected scam centres.
According to Meta, law enforcement confirmed the arrest of
28 individuals and the rescue of 117 people who had been trafficked and forced
to work in scam compounds in Ghana.
The rescued victims were reportedly held against their will
in a residential compound, where they suffered malnutrition and physical and
psychological abuse.
Meta said most of the accounts, pages and groups it removed
appeared to target people in the United States and United Kingdom through
profiles impersonating American and British users.
Microsoft also suspended accounts suspected of being linked
to the fraudulent activities.
Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange, identified more than 65
active scam victims and prevented potential losses exceeding $415,000,
according to the statement.
The operation brought together technology companies,
including Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Coinbase, Starlink and Adobe, alongside
law enforcement agencies from Nigeria, Ghana, Australia, Canada, New Zealand
and India.
Meta said the collaboration enabled participants to share
intelligence across digital platforms, jurisdictions and financial systems to
identify criminal networks and disrupt their operations.
The fraud schemes targeted by the operation included
cryptocurrency investment scams, fake job offers, romance scams, impersonation
of law enforcement officers and military personnel, and fraudulent online
sales.
The operation also targeted so-called scam recovery schemes,
in which fraudsters exploit previous victims by promising to recover stolen
money in exchange for upfront payments.
Chris Sonderby, Meta’s vice-president and deputy general
counsel, said the operation demonstrated the importance of cooperation between
technology companies and law enforcement agencies.
He said the company would continue working with partners to
pursue scammers and disrupt their operations wherever they operate.
Nick Sharp, NCA deputy director of fraud, said the
collaboration helped authorities target criminals responsible for fraud
affecting thousands of victims.
He added that the agency will continue working with
international and private-sector partners to tackle fraud networks operating
across borders.
The operation comes amid growing concerns over organised
online fraud, with criminal networks using scam centres to recruit workers,
train them in deception techniques and coordinate fraudulent campaigns against
victims around the world.
“Tech companies play a pivotal role in disrupting scam
operations. But meaningful progress ultimately depends on real consequences for
the criminal organizations behind these schemes,” the statement said.
“This model of industry and law enforcement working side by
side delivers those consequences, and Meta and our partners are committed to
ensuring its ongoing strength and repeatability.”
IN
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