…Operation leads to removal of over 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, 28 arrests and rescue of 117 trafficking victims in Nigeria and Ghana
Leading global technology companies, including Meta, Coinbase, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Starlink and Adobe, have partnered with international law enforcement agencies to disrupt criminal scam networks operating across West Africa, including Nigeria and Ghana.
The joint operation, hosted by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in London in collaboration with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other law enforcement agencies, marks a major coordinated effort to tackle online fraud, protect victims and disrupt the infrastructure used by transnational criminal networks.
According to information released by the participating organisations, the operation brought together technology companies, law enforcement officials and international partners to share intelligence, identify criminal networks and take action against fraudulent accounts, digital infrastructure and financial channels used to facilitate scams.
The operation began on Tuesday, October 6, at the NCA headquarters in London, with participation from Nigerian and Ghanaian law enforcement representatives, alongside counterparts from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India.
Millions of accounts removed as investigations intensify
As part of the operation, Meta removed more than 3.7 million accounts, Pages and Groups from Facebook and Instagram that were based in West Africa. The company reported that most appeared to be targeting people in the United States and the United Kingdom through profiles impersonating American and British users.
Microsoft also suspended accounts suspected of being connected to scam activities.
Law enforcement agencies confirmed that intelligence gathered during the operation generated leads on more than 30 suspected scam centres and resulted in the arrest of 28 individuals. The operation also led to the rescue of 117 people who had allegedly been trafficked and forced to work in scam compounds in Ghana.
Coinbase, meanwhile, reported that it proactively identified more than 65 active scam victims and prevented potential losses exceeding $415,000.
The participating organisations said the intelligence-sharing effort had created new opportunities to connect information across digital platforms, jurisdictions and financial systems, strengthening investigations into the individuals and networks behind online fraud.
Nigerian and West African dimension
The operation highlights the growing importance of international collaboration in addressing cyber-enabled financial crime, particularly as criminal networks exploit digital platforms and online financial services to target victims across national borders.
According to the participating organisations, scam networks operating in West Africa are often more decentralised than the large, industrial-scale compounds identified in parts of Southeast Asia. Investigators warned that criminal groups continually seek new locations and channels from which to operate, making cooperation among law enforcement, governments and technology companies essential.
The operation targeted several forms of fraud, including investment and cryptocurrency scams, fake job and online task offers, law enforcement and military impersonation, non-delivery scams, romance fraud and fraudulent promises to recover money previously lost to scams.
In investment scams, fraudsters may establish romantic or professional relationships with victims before persuading them to transfer funds into fraudulent schemes. Job and task scams often involve fake employment opportunities designed to extract upfront payments, while recovery scams target previous victims with false promises of retrieving their lost money in exchange for additional fees.
The organisations said disrupting these schemes requires action at multiple stages of the fraud process, from recruitment and digital infrastructure to victim identification and the movement of proceeds.
Although the operation involved Nigerian law enforcement representatives, the published results do not specify the number of arrests or other enforcement actions carried out within Nigeria.
Technology companies stress the importance of collaboration
Chris Sonderby, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Meta, said the operation demonstrated the value of collaboration between industry and law enforcement in tackling transnational fraud.
He said the operation resulted in the removal of more than 3.7 million accounts, Pages and Groups targeting people in the United States, the United Kingdom and other locations. He also cited the sharing of leads on more than 30 suspected scam centres, arrests, the rescue of trafficking victims and cryptocurrency seizures.
Nick Sharp, Deputy Director of Fraud at the National Crime Agency, said international and private-sector partnerships were vital because fraudsters could operate from one country while targeting victims in another.
He noted that bringing technology companies and law enforcement together enabled investigators to use shared intelligence to pursue criminal networks and the digital infrastructure supporting their activities.
FBI Director Kash Patel also highlighted the importance of cooperation across agencies and countries, citing arrests, the seizure of hundreds of devices, the identification of at least $11 million in potentially freezable funds and the rescue of trafficking victims.
Representatives of participating technology companies, including Microsoft, OpenAI and Coinbase, similarly emphasised the role of intelligence-sharing, digital threat detection and financial tracing in identifying scam networks and supporting enforcement action.
A continuing fight against online fraud
The operation reflects a growing focus on disrupting online scams at their source rather than relying exclusively on victim reports after financial losses have occurred.
Criminal networks increasingly use coordinated digital operations, social engineering, impersonation and complex financial channels to defraud individuals across multiple countries. Their activities can also involve the exploitation and trafficking of people forced to participate in fraudulent schemes.
The participating organisations said sustained cooperation between technology companies, financial service providers and law enforcement would be essential to identifying emerging threats, protecting consumers and bringing those responsible for online fraud to justice.
For Nigerian consumers and businesses, the developments underscore the importance of remaining vigilant when dealing with unsolicited investment offers, suspicious job opportunities, online relationships involving requests for money and individuals claiming they can recover previously lost funds for an upfront fee.
Members of the public are advised to verify offers independently, avoid sending money to unverified individuals or platforms, protect their account credentials and report suspected fraud through the appropriate platform and law enforcement channels.
The organisations involved said they intend to sustain cooperation to disrupt criminal networks wherever they operate.
