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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has announced the removal of 63,000 accounts linked to the “Yahoo Boys” scam group in its latest effort to combat fraud on its platforms.
According to Meta’s Q1 2024 Adversarial Threat Report released on Wednesday, these accounts were eliminated over recent weeks for their involvement in financial sextortion scams and the distribution of blackmail scripts.
Additionally, Meta disclosed the removal of a smaller network consisting of 2,500 accounts associated with approximately 20 individuals. This network primarily targeted adult men in the United States through the use of fake identities.
Furthermore, Meta Platforms Inc., said it removed approximately 7,200 assets in Nigeria, which includes 1,300 Facebook accounts, 200 pages, and 5,700 groups that were involved in facilitating scams.
According to Meta, these assets were found to be offering scripts and guides for scams, and sharing links to collections of photos used for creating fake accounts.
The company explained that it identified and disabled these accounts using advanced technical signals and thorough investigations, thereby strengthening its automated detection systems.
It said: “Financial sextortion is a borderless crime, fueled in recent years by the increased activity of Yahoo Boys, loosely organised cybercriminals operating largely out of Nigeria that specialize in different types of scams,” the social media giant stated.
“We have removed around 63,000 accounts in Nigeria attempting to target people with financial sextortion scams, including a coordinated network of around 2,500 accounts.”
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“We have also removed a set of Facebook accounts, Pages, and groups run by Yahoo Boys—banned under our Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy—that were attempting to organize, recruit and train new scammers,” the company explained.
During its investigation, Meta discovered that while most scammers’ attempts were unsuccessful, some had targeted minors, prompting Meta to report these cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Additionally, Meta disclosed that it shared information with other tech companies through the Tech Coalition’s Lantern program to collaborate in combating these scams across various platforms.
Since disrupting these activities, Meta’s systems have actively prevented attempts by these groups to return, continuously enhancing their detection capabilities.
Meta said that it is in close collaboration with law enforcement, assisting in investigations and prosecutions by responding to legal requests and notifying authorities of imminent threats. It noted that its efforts extend beyond merely removing accounts.
“We also fund and support NCMEC and the International Justice Mission to run Project Boost, a program that trains law enforcement agencies around the world in processing and acting on NCMEC reports.
“We have conducted several training sessions so far, including in Nigeria and the Cote d’Ivoire, with our most recent session taking place just last month,” the firm revealed.
To enhance user protection, particularly for teens, Meta said it has implemented stricter messaging settings for users under 16 (under 18 in certain countries) and displays safety notices to promote cautious online behavior.
Recently, Meta faced a $220 million fine from Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for multiple violations of data protection laws related to WhatsApp.
The investigation, initiated in May 2021, concluded that Meta’s privacy policies breached user rights through unauthorised data sharing and discriminatory practices.
Meta intends to contest the decision, stating its disagreement with the findings and the imposed penalty. Meanwhile, the FCCPC aims to ensure fair treatment of Nigerian users and uphold compliance with local regulations.
