Meta's Crackdown on Sextortion Scams in Nigeria: Thousands of Accounts Removed
In a bold move to combat financial sextortion, Instagram owner Meta has taken down thousands of accounts in Nigeria involved in sextortion schemes. These scammers, often posing as young women online, trick victims into sending sexually explicit material and then blackmail them, leading to devastating consequences such as stress, stigma, and even suicide.
In a recent blog post, Meta revealed that it had removed approximately 63,000 accounts attempting to engage in these scams. Additionally, the company shut down 5,700 Facebook groups where scammers shared tips on how to deceive people. This crackdown comes as experts and authorities warn social media users about the dangers of sextortion scams, following a rise in reported incidents.
One tragic case involved 16-year-old Murray Dowey from Dunblane, who took his own life after falling prey to criminals. The BBC also uncovered sextortion guides being sold on social media platforms, highlighting the pervasive nature of these scams.
Perpetrators of sextortion scams lure victims by posing as romantic interests, persuading them to send intimate images. Once the images are received, victims are threatened with public exposure unless they pay up.
Meta's actions targeted accounts linked to a broader network of cybercriminals in Nigeria known as "Yahoo Boys." These fraudsters have been blacklisted by Meta and are prohibited from using the platform for their illicit activities. Through a mix of technologies, Meta identifies accounts engaged in sextortion and offers tools to protect users, such as blurring nude images and blocking and reporting suspicious senders.
By implementing new measures like hiding the "message" button on teen profiles to potential sextortion accounts, Meta aims to safeguard its users from falling victim to these harmful schemes. Stay vigilant and be cautious when interacting online to avoid becoming a target of sextortion.