Meta Removes 3.7 Million Scam Accounts in West Africa

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has taken down more than 3.7 million accounts, pages, and groups associated with suspected scam networks in West Africa. This action was part of a coordinated effort involving Nigerian authorities and international partners, announced on October 13, 2026.

The operation included 14 companies and law enforcement agencies from 10 countries, with the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA) leading the initiative in collaboration with the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Authorities identified over 30 suspected scam centers, arrested 28 individuals, and rescued 117 people who were allegedly trafficked and forced to work in scam compounds in Ghana.

The operation also involved technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Coinbase, Starlink, and Adobe, which facilitated intelligence sharing across various platforms and countries to combat online fraud. Most removed accounts targeted individuals in the United Kingdom, with some impersonating American and British users.