Meta Erases 3.7 Million Accounts After Ghana Scam Raid

Meta has removed 3.7 million accounts, pages, and groups from Facebook and Instagram after an international operation revealed a human trafficking ring operating a forced-labor scam in Ghana. This crackdown was led by the UK National Crime Agency and the US Department of Justice, in collaboration with Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities.

The operation resulted in the arrest of 28 suspects and the rescue of 117 individuals who were held hostage in a residential compound. The victims endured physical abuse and malnutrition while being coerced into executing various online fraud schemes targeting users in the United States and the United Kingdom.

These fraudulent activities included fake job offers, cryptocurrency traps, romance impersonations, and fraudulent sales. Additionally, the syndicate forced victims to conduct recovery scams, promising to retrieve lost funds from previous fraud victims in exchange for advance fees.

Meta stated that tech companies play a crucial role in disrupting such operations but emphasized that real consequences for the criminal organizations are essential for meaningful progress.