Meta, Tech Firms and Police Hit West Africa Scam Centers in Joint Operation That Led to 28 Arrests
Do Son 
| At a glance | |
| Actor | Criminal scam networks based in West Africa, including Nigeria and Ghana |
| Activity | Investment, romance, job, impersonation, non-delivery, and recovery scams |
| Targets | Mostly people in the US and UK, plus victims worldwide |
| Scale | 3.7 million+ accounts removed; 30+ scam centers flagged; 117 trafficking victims rescued |
| Status | 28 arrests confirmed by law enforcement; captors in Ghana facing prosecution |
| Source | Meta press release, with statements from the NCA, FBI, DOJ, and industry partners |
TL;DR
Meta removed more than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages, and groups tied to West Africa scam centers. The takedown came from a week-long joint operation with 14 other tech firms and police from ten countries. Law enforcement confirmed 28 arrests and the rescue of 117 trafficking victims.
What happened
Starting October 6, 2026, the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) hosted the operation at its London headquarters. The FBI, the US Department of Justice, and Homeland Security Investigations joined as partners. Police from Ghana, Nigeria, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and India also took part.
On the industry side, Meta worked with Coinbase, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Starlink, Adobe, and others. Over several days, the teams shared intelligence across platforms, borders, and payment systems. Their goal was to hit the fraud chain at many points, from recruiting scammers to moving stolen money.
Meta calls it “the first joint disruption to broadly target criminal scam networks in the West Africa region.” The company also describes this scam crackdown as the largest operation of its kind so far.
A different kind of scam hub
According to Meta, these networks differ from the large compounds of Southeast Asia. West Africa scam centers tend to be “more decentralized and less industrial.” Still, they ran a wide range of fraud. This included crypto investment cons, romance scams, fake jobs, and fake police or military officers. Some even targeted past victims with false promises to recover lost money.
Who is behind it
The operation targeted criminal syndicates based in Nigeria, Ghana, and nearby countries. Officials have not publicly named any group or suspect. The 28 people arrested have not been convicted, and the cases remain open.
Notably, many of the workers were victims too. Police rescued 117 people who had been trafficked and held in a residential compound in Ghana. Meta says they were malnourished and suffered physical and psychological abuse. Their alleged captors were arrested and now face prosecution.
Impact and scale
Most of the removed Meta accounts targeted people in the US and UK. Many used profiles that impersonated American and British users. Microsoft also suspended accounts suspected of links to the scams.
Partners reported further results, though these figures are their own claims:
- Coinbase says it found more than 65 active scam victims and blocked over $415,000 in potential losses.
- FBI Director Kash Patel says agents identified “at least $11 million in potentially freezable funds.”
- Silent Push says it mapped more than 35,000 malicious domains and nearly 700 communication channels.
- TRM Labs says it exposed a large peer-to-peer money laundering network.
Meta’s Chris Sonderby summed up the approach: “Scams are a global threat that demand a global response.” Similarly, the NCA’s Nick Sharp said fraudsters “can operate from anywhere and will target victims both domestically and globally.”
What comes next
Partners say the shared data will fuel new investigations. Meanwhile, the UK plans a new Online Crime Centre to build on this work. Coinbase also noted that criminal networks are trying to “reestablish in Africa” after earlier crackdowns in Southeast Asia. As a result, the next scam crackdown may follow these networks wherever they move.
How to stay protected
- Be wary of online contacts who quickly turn to romance, investments, or crypto.
- Never pay upfront fees for a job, a task, or to “recover” scam losses.
- Verify anyone claiming to be police, military, or a government official through official channels.
- Check new profiles for signs of impersonation, such as stolen photos or recent creation dates.
- Report suspected scams to the platform and to national fraud agencies.
Overall, the action against West Africa scam centers shows how shared data can link online fraud to real-world arrests.
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