Meta Removes 63,000 Instagram Accounts in Nigeria for Sextortion Scams Targeting U.S. Adults

Meta Platforms (META.O) announced on Wednesday that it had removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria for attempting financial sexual extortion scams, primarily targeting adult men in the United States. These fraudulent activities, often perpetrated by Nigerian online fraudsters known as "Yahoo boys," include a range of scams, from posing as individuals in financial distress to impersonating Nigerian princes promising high investment returns.

In a detailed statement, Meta revealed that it had also eliminated 7,200 Facebook accounts, pages, and groups dedicated to sharing scamming tips. Furthermore, the company dismantled a smaller network of around 2,500 accounts linked to a group of about 20 individuals.

 These efforts aimed to curb "sextortion," where victims are blackmailed with the release of compromising photos, either genuine or fabricated, unless they pay a ransom.

Most of the scammers' attempts were unsuccessful, targeting both adults and minors. Meta reported these incidents involving minors to the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

 This recent operation is part of Meta's ongoing battle against such networks, disclosed to raise public awareness.

Meta has faced increased scrutiny from governments worldwide, including the United States, where lawmakers have intensified pressure on the company to address the harm its platforms may pose to children. Earlier this year, a U.S. lawmaker accused Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and other social media executives of having "blood on their hands" for not adequately protecting children from online sexual predators.

The U.S. Surgeon General has even suggested adding warning labels to social media apps to highlight these dangers.

Nigerian scammers, notorious for "419 scams" (named after the national penal code section on fraud), have expanded their operations amid worsening economic conditions in the country of over 200 million people. These fraudsters operate from various locations, including university dormitories, shantytowns, and affluent neighborhoods. Some of the removed accounts were found to be offering advice on conducting scams, selling scripts and guides for deception, and sharing links to photo collections for creating fake profiles.

Meta's recent crackdown underscores its commitment to tackling online fraud and protecting users from financial and sexual exploitation, while also highlighting the ongoing challenges in policing its platforms.