From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has announced the removal of 63,000 accounts tied to the “Yahoo Boys” scam network as part of its ongoing battle against online fraud.
In its Q1 2024 Adversarial Threat Report, Meta revealed that these accounts were taken down in recent weeks due to their involvement in financial sextortion schemes and the distribution of blackmail scripts. The report highlights a significant effort by Meta to curb fraudulent activities on its platforms.
The report also disclosed the dismantling of a smaller network of 2,500 accounts associated with around 20 individuals. This network specifically targeted adult men in the United States using fake identities. Additionally, Meta removed approximately 7,200 assets in Nigeria, including 1,300 Facebook accounts, 200 pages, and 5,700 groups involved in facilitating scams. These assets were found to be offering scam scripts and guides and sharing links to photo collections used for creating fake accounts.
Meta explained that the accounts were identified and disabled using advanced technical signals and thorough investigations, bolstering its automated detection systems. The company emphasized that financial sextortion is a borderless crime, exacerbated by the activities of the Yahoo Boys, a loosely organized group of cybercriminals from Nigeria specializing in various scams.
In addition to removing the accounts, Meta reported that some scammers had targeted minors, leading to referrals to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Meta has also collaborated with other tech companies through the Tech Coalition’s Lantern program to address scams across platforms.
The company has been proactive in assisting law enforcement with investigations and prosecutions, responding to legal requests, and notifying authorities of imminent threats. Meta is also funding and supporting NCMEC and the International Justice Mission’s Project Boost, which trains law enforcement globally, including recent sessions in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.
In a related development, Meta recently faced a $220 million fine from Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for data protection law violations related to WhatsApp. The FCCPC’s investigation, initiated in May 2021, found Meta’s privacy policies breached user rights through unauthorized data sharing and discriminatory practices. Meta plans to contest the fine, disagreeing with the findings and penalty, while the FCCPC aims to ensure fair treatment of Nigerian users and compliance with local regulations.