Meta has taken decisive action against financial sextortion scams by removing approximately 63,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to fraudulent activities based in Nigeria. These scams typically involve perpetrators impersonating attractive women to manipulate victims into sharing explicit images, which are then used to extort money through threats of public exposure.
In addition to the account removals, Meta has eliminated around 7,200 resources, including 1,300 Facebook accounts, 200 Facebook Pages, and 5,700 Facebook Groups. These entities were utilized to disseminate information on executing scams, providing scripted dialogues and links to image collections that facilitated the creation of fake identities for catfishing.
The company also disclosed the dismantling of a coordinated network comprising approximately 2,500 accounts associated with around 20 individuals. While the majority of these scams primarily targeted adult men in the United States, Meta acknowledged that there were instances where minors were also approached, prompting immediate reporting to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Meta highlighted the transnational nature of financial sextortion, emphasizing the growing threat posed by cybercriminals, often referred to as Yahoo Boys, who are primarily based in Nigeria. These individuals have evolved from traditional scams to more sophisticated romance scams that exploit intimate relationships for financial gain.
Under its Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy, Meta has banned these Yahoo Boys, resulting in the removal of accounts engaged in criminal activities. The company noted that sextortion schemes frequently originate from romance scams, with Nigeria being a significant hub for online romance fraud across Africa.
To combat these threats, Meta is testing advanced technologies, including an auto-blur feature in Instagram direct messages that automatically obscures images containing nudity. This initiative aims to protect users from falling victim to sextortion schemes and underscores Meta's commitment to enhancing safety on its platforms.