Home / Crime and Justice / FBI Raids Africa Scam Centers, Nabs 28 Suspects
FBI Raids Africa Scam Centers, Nabs 28 Suspects
13 Oct
Summary
- 28 suspects arrested in Ghana and Nigeria last week.
- Over 100 trafficked workers rescued and are awaiting repatriation.
- More than 3.7 million fraudulent Facebook and Instagram accounts were disabled.
Global law enforcement has intensified its efforts against transnational cybercrime, leading to the dismantling of large-scale scam compounds operating out of Africa. Recent operations, stemming from the FBI's "Operation Blackout," resulted in 28 arrests in Ghana and Nigeria during a "Joint Disruption Week."
These actions freed over 100 trafficked workers and identified more than 100 potential scam victims in the U.S., with reported losses surpassing $10 million. Meta actively supported these efforts by disabling over 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to fraudulent activities.
This FBI-led initiative targets criminal networks forcing trafficked individuals to execute fraud schemes remotely. Operation Blackout has collectively led to the seizure of approximately $17 billion, hundreds of arrests, and the freeing of thousands of trafficked workers.
Authorities also issued warnings to over 10,000 Americans about potential fraud, preventing an estimated $670 million in financial losses. The FBI noted a geographic shift of these scam compounds towards central and sub-Saharan Africa.
