Meta, the parent company of Facebook, recently revealed that it has removed approximately 63,000 Facebook profiles in Nigeria involved in financial sextortion scams. This action is part of a broader effort to combat fraudulent activities orchestrated by cybercriminals, often referred to as Yahoo Boys.
Financial Sextortion Scams
These scams typically involve perpetrators posing as attractive women to deceive victims into sending nude photos. Once the scammers obtain these images, they threaten to publicly release them unless a ransom is paid. This form of extortion has increasingly targeted individuals globally, with a significant number of attempts aimed at adult men in the US.
Meta’s Broader Cleanup
In addition to the 63,000 profiles, Meta also removed around 7,200 resources, which included:
- 1,300 Facebook profiles
- 200 Pages
- 5,700 Groups
These resources were utilized to facilitate the scams, providing tips, scripted conversations, and links to image collections used for creating fake identities.
Targeting and Impact
While most financial sextortion attempts were not highly successful, Meta identified some cases where minors were targeted. These incidents were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The rise in sextortion and other scams highlights the borderless nature of such crimes, with Nigerian cybercriminals playing a prominent role.
Role of Nigeria in Online Romance Fraud
Nigeria has a significant presence in online romance fraud across Africa. Scammers often initiate sextortion through romance scams, gradually expanding their tactics to include various forms of exploitation, such as targeting mobile games.
Meta’s Technological Countermeasures
To counteract these scams, Meta is testing new technologies aimed at protecting users from sextortion. One such feature is an auto-blur function in Instagram DMs, which automatically blurs images detected to contain nudity. This measure is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to enhance user safety and reduce the incidence of online fraud.
Meta’s proactive steps to dismantle these scams underscore its commitment to ensuring a safer online environment. However, the persistent threat posed by cybercriminals necessitates continuous vigilance and innovation in combating digital fraud.
