Meta Platforms announced on Wednesday the removal of approximately 63,000 accounts in Nigeria involved in financial sexual extortion scams, primarily targeting adult men in the United States. These Nigerian online fraudsters, often referred to as “Yahoo boys,” engage in various scams, including posing as individuals in financial distress or as Nigerian princes promising high returns on investments.
Meta’s statement highlighted that the 63,000 accounts were on Instagram, alongside the removal of 7,200 Facebook accounts, pages, and groups that provided scamming tips. Additionally, a smaller network of around 2,500 accounts linked to about 20 individuals was dismantled.
“Sextortion” involves threatening victims with the release of compromising photos, real or fake, unless a ransom is paid. While most scams targeted adults, some attempts were directed at minors, which Meta reported to the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Meta emphasized this was not their first disruption of such networks but disclosed the current operation to raise awareness. The company has faced increasing scrutiny from governments, including U.S. legislators, over concerns that it neglects the harmful impact of its services on children. Earlier this year, a U.S. lawmaker accused Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other social media leaders of failing to protect children from sexual predation on their platforms. The U.S. Surgeon General has also suggested adding warning labels to social media apps about these harms.
Online scams in Nigeria, known as “419 scams” after a section of the national penal code, have surged due to worsening economic conditions. Scammers operate from various locations, including university dormitories, shanty towns, and affluent neighborhoods. Meta noted that some accounts offered scamming tips, scripts, and fake photos to aid fraudulent activities.
