Meta Takes Down Thousands of Sextortion Scam Accounts in Nigeria
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced the removal of approximately 63,000 Facebook accounts in Nigeria that were involved in financial sextortion scams. This effort also included the dismantling of groups and pages that were organizing, recruiting, and training new scammers.
Understanding Sextortion
Sextortion is a form of sexual exploitation where individuals are coerced into sending explicit photos or videos online. Once the material is obtained, the scammers threaten to release the content publicly unless the victim pays a ransom or complies with further sexual demands. Recent incidents have highlighted the devastating impact of sextortion. In Michigan, two Nigerian brothers were convicted of sexually extorting young men, including a case that led to the victim’s suicide. Similarly, a Virginia sheriff’s deputy was found guilty of sexually extorting and kidnapping a 15-year-old girl.
The Rise of Sextortion Cases
Meta has reported a significant increase in sextortion cases, driven in part by the activities of a loosely organized group known as the Yahoo Boys, primarily based in Nigeria. This group has been implicated in numerous scams, leading to the removal of Facebook accounts and groups under Meta’s “dangerous organizations and individuals” policy.
In January, the FBI issued a warning about a dramatic rise in sextortion cases targeting children. While the primary victims are boys aged 14 to 17, the FBI stressed that any child could be vulnerable to such schemes.
Meta’s Response and Actions
Meta’s investigation revealed that most sextortion attempts targeted adult men in the U.S. Although the majority of these scams were unsuccessful, there were instances where minors were targeted. These cases were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The crackdown led to the removal of a coordinated network comprising about 2,500 accounts managed by a group of approximately 20 individuals.
New Protective Measures
In April, Meta introduced new tools on Instagram aimed at protecting young users and combating sexual extortion. One such feature includes automatically blurring nudity in direct messages. These tools are still being tested as part of Meta’s broader initiative to fight sexual scams and other forms of image abuse, and to make it more challenging for criminals to contact teens.
Conclusion
Meta’s recent actions underscore the company’s commitment to combating sextortion and protecting users, particularly minors, from sexual exploitation. By removing tens of thousands of accounts involved in such scams and introducing new protective measures, Meta aims to create a safer online environment and prevent further victimization.
