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An international coalition of law enforcement agencies and major technology companies has disrupted cybercriminal networks operating across West Africa, targeting online fraud infrastructure, suspected scam centres and financial channels linked to transnational criminal activity.
The operation, coordinated by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) in London in partnership with the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other US federal agencies, involved law enforcement personnel from 10 countries and technology firms including Meta, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Coinbase, Adobe, Starlink and cybersecurity company Silent Push.
The initiative targeted fraud syndicates operating primarily in Nigeria and Ghana, with investigations also uncovering human trafficking and the exploitation of victims forced to participate in scam operations.
Meta removes more than 3.7 million accounts linked to scams
Meta carried out a major takedown of digital assets associated with the suspected West African fraud networks, removing more than 3.7 million accounts, Pages and Groups across Facebook and Instagram.
According to information from the operation, many of the removed accounts used impersonation tactics to deceive victims. Criminals allegedly created fake profiles posing as US and UK citizens to establish credibility and manipulate targets into engaging with fraudulent schemes.
Investigators identified victims across multiple regions, including Poland, Germany, Brazil, Japan, India, South Korea, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Turkey and Nigeria.
The findings point to the international reach of the networks and the role of digital platforms in enabling fraudsters to contact potential victims across national borders.
Arrests and trafficking rescues expose wider criminal operations
Law enforcement agencies confirmed the arrest of 28 individuals linked to the command-and-control structures of the targeted scam networks.
The operation also exposed suspected human trafficking at a residential compound in Ghana, where authorities rescued 117 people reportedly held under coercive conditions and forced to carry out online scams.
Investigators said the victims had been subjected to force and deception and made to work long hours on behalf of criminal operators. The findings highlighted the connection between online fraud and other forms of organised crime, including human trafficking and forced labour.
In addition, intelligence gathered during the operation provided investigators with leads on more than 30 suspected scam centres across the region, potentially supporting further enforcement action.
Coinbase and Microsoft strengthen fraud disruption efforts
Technology and financial services companies contributed specialised capabilities to identify suspicious activity and disrupt criminal operations.
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase identified more than 65 active scam victims and prevented over $415,000 in potential financial losses before the transactions were completed.
Microsoft suspended user accounts identified as channels for malicious activity, helping disrupt digital access associated with the networks.
Meanwhile, Silent Push identified more than 35,000 malicious domains and nearly 700 distinct communication channels linked to the suspected scam centres.
The threat intelligence helped investigators connect online activity with infrastructure and potential physical locations, providing leads that could support efforts to identify the people and facilities behind the fraud schemes.
Meta highlights importance of international cooperation
Meta Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Chris Sonderby said the operation demonstrated the importance of cooperation between technology companies and law enforcement agencies in addressing cross-border fraud.
“Scams are a global threat that demands a global response,” Sonderby said.
He said Meta had worked with the NCA, FBI, DOJ and the Homeland Security Task Force to disrupt scam centres across West Africa. The company also shared leads on more than 30 suspected scam centres, which were linked to arrests, the rescue of trafficking victims and cryptocurrency seizures.
Sonderby added that Meta would continue working with law enforcement and industry partners to pursue scammers regardless of where they operate.
NCA stresses cross-border approach to fraud prevention
Nick Sharp, Deputy Director of Fraud at the NCA, also emphasised the importance of international cooperation in tackling fraud.
“Fraud is a global problem and it takes partnership working across international boundaries to tackle it,” Sharp said.
The operation illustrates how cybercrime investigations increasingly depend on collaboration between law enforcement, digital platforms, cybersecurity specialists and financial service providers. While online infrastructure can enable fraudsters to reach victims worldwide, coordinated intelligence-sharing and enforcement can help connect digital activity to criminal networks operating on the ground.
For West Africa, the disruption also draws attention to the overlap between cyber-enabled financial crime and human trafficking, underscoring the cross-border nature of the criminal networks targeted by the operation.
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