Meta Platforms has announced the removal of approximately 63,000 accounts in Nigeria involved in financial sexual extortion scams primarily targeting adult men in the United States.
Despite most attempts being unsuccessful, there were also reported attempts against minors, which Meta has forwarded to the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
According to Reuters, Meta representatives revealed that this was not the first instance of disrupting such networks, but they chose to disclose the current operation to “drive awareness.”
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The social media giant has faced increasing pressure from governments, particularly in the U.S., to address concerns about the safety of children on its platforms.
Earlier this year, during a U.S. hearing, lawmakers accused Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and other social media leaders of negligence in protecting children from sexual predation, with one lawmaker stating they had “blood on their hands.” The U.S. Surgeon-General has also suggested adding a warning label to social media apps to remind users of these risks.
With Nigeria experiencing severe economic hardships, online scams have proliferated, often orchestrated from university dormitories, shanty suburbs, or affluent neighborhoods.
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Meta noted that some accounts were providing tips and guides for conducting scams, including selling scripts and sharing links to collections of photos for fake accounts.
Meta’s ongoing efforts aim to combat such fraudulent activities and protect potential victims from these scams.