Meta Removes 3.7 Million Accounts as Police in Ghana and Nigeria Make 28 Arrests in a West African Scam Crackdown

Meta announced on 13th October that it removed more than 3.7 million accounts, pages and groups linked to West African scam operations, as police in Ghana and Nigeria made 28 arrests. The action followed a joint operation hosted in London by the UK's National Crime Agency, with the US Department of Justice and FBI involved, as set out in Meta's announcement.

What Was Announced

Meta and 14 other technology companies worked with law enforcement agencies during the operation, which Axios covered alongside the DOJ and FBI. The numbers released so far:

• 3.7 million or more accounts, pages and groups removed by Meta.

• 28 arrests: 19 in Ghana and 9 in Nigeria.

• 356 devices seized: 303 in Ghana and 53 in Nigeria.

• 117 suspected trafficking victims identified at a compound in Ghana.

• Leads on more than 30 scam centres.

The headline figures from the 13th October announcement

The Ghana Raid and the Trafficking Victims

Nineteen of the arrests came in a raid on a compound outside Accra, where 303 devices were seized. Ghanaian police identified 117 people there as suspected trafficking victims, who were rescued and are awaiting repatriation to Nigeria, as The Record detailed. Nine further arrests were made in Nigeria, with 53 devices seized.

Money and Infrastructure

Officials identified more than $11 million in potentially freezable funds, though they did not say how much was frozen or seized. Coinbase said it stopped more than $415,000, and Silent Push mapped more than 35,000 malicious domains.

The Scams Behind the Numbers

The accounts were tied to investment and crypto scams, job and task scams, police and military impersonation, non-delivery scams, romance scams and recovery scams, where fraudsters pose as someone who can get lost money back. Most targeted people in the US and UK, though victims were also reached in Nigeria, South Africa and other countries.

For Nigerian users, the warning signs are the same as ever: a stranger who moves a chat to another app, a task that pays too well, an investment with guaranteed returns, or an official who demands payment by message.

What They Said

Chris Sonderby of Meta said: "Scams are a global threat that demand a global response." Nick Sharp of the National Crime Agency said that "fraudsters can operate from anywhere." The FBI's Matthew Floyd said: "These networks steal savings on one side of the screen, and people's freedom on the other."

The operation does not end the problem. Officials said forensic work on the seized devices continues, and the number of British and American victims is not yet known.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Did Meta Announce on 13th October?

Meta said it removed more than 3.7 million accounts, pages and groups linked to West African scam operations, after a joint operation with law enforcement and other tech companies.

How Many Arrests Were Made in Ghana and Nigeria?

There were 28 arrests: 19 in Ghana and 9 in Nigeria.

Who Led the Operation?

The UK's National Crime Agency hosted it in London, with the US Department of Justice and FBI involved.

What Kinds of Scams Were Targeted?

Investment and crypto, job and task, police and military impersonation, non-delivery, romance and recovery scams.