Meta Removes 63,000 Instagram Accounts in Nigeria due to 'Sextortion' Scams
Meta removed 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria linked to 'sextortion' scams. The company also eliminated 7,200 Facebook accounts involved in scam activities. Scammers targeted both adults and minors, with unsuccessful attempts at extortion.
These accounts were part of a crackdown on Nigerian online fraudsters, commonly known as "Yahoo boys," who are infamous for various scams, including posing as individuals in financial distress or Nigerian royalty promising lucrative investment opportunities.
The social media company disclosed that the 63,000 accounts were on Instagram, along with 7,200 Facebook accounts, pages, and groups dedicated to sharing scamming strategies. Additionally, Meta dismantled a smaller network of about 2,500 accounts associated with a group of roughly 20 individuals.
The scammers' primary strategy was sextortion, a form of blackmail in which individuals are coerced into paying to prevent the release of compromising photographs. Although the majority of all extortion attempts were unsuccessful, the scammers targeted both adults and juveniles. Meta promptly informed the U.S. National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children of any incidents involving minors.
Meta representatives emphasised that this operation was not their first time disrupting such networks; however, they elected to publicise the current initiative in order to increase awareness. Meta has been subjected to heightened scrutiny by governments, particularly those in the United States, who have urged the company to address concerns regarding the potential harm its platforms may cause to minors.
A U.S. lawmaker recently accused Meta's Chief Executive, Mark Zuckerberg, and other social media leaders of neglecting their responsibility to protect children from online threats during a hearing, asserting that they have "blood on their hands." In addition, the U.S. Surgeon General has urged the inclusion of warning labels in social media applications to serve as a reminder to users of the hazards that are associated with their platforms.
In Nigeria, scammers are frequently referred to as "419 scams," a term that is derived from the section of the national penal code that has historically limited its efficacy in combating fraud. Nigeria's population of over 200 million continues to face economic challenges, which has resulted in the proliferation of online scams. Perpetrators operate from a variety of locations, including impoverished areas, upscale communities, and university dormitories.
Meta disclosed that certain accounts were providing guidance on running scams, such as selling scripts and guides for fraudulent activities and sharing links to photo collections for the purpose of creating false profiles.
Meta removed 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria linked to 'sextortion' scams.
The company also eliminated 7,200 Facebook accounts involved in scam activities.
Scammers targeted both adults and minors, with unsuccessful attempts at extortion.
Source: REUTERS