Sextortion Scam: 63K Instagram Account In Nigeria Removed

Meta has recently announced that steps were taken to remove around 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria. According to media reports these accounts were used in financial sextortion scams and some attempted to target minors. In this article, we’ll learn more about the sextortion scams and efforts that were adopted to safeguard online activity.

Nigerian Sextortion Scams: Meta Takes Action

According to Meta, the sextortion scams were being conducted by a coordinated network of around 2,500 accounts. The accounts were linked to 20 different individuals and primarily targeted men currently living in the United States (US).

Upon discovery of the sextortion scams, Meta claims to have reported these accounts to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Apart from these Instagram scam accounts, around 7,200 assets were also removed by Meta. These assets included:

• 1300 Facebook accounts.
• 200 Facebook pages.
• 5700 Facebook groups.

It’s worth mentioning here that all of these accounts were based in Nigeria and were used for recruiting, organizing, and training new scammers. Through these accounts an ample amount of resources that could be of aid when scamming others were distributed.

Common examples of such resources included scripts, guides, and a collection of fake photos that could be of aid in populating the scam accounts.

The Yahoo Boys Cybercrime Group

According to the information available, a second cluster to a cybercrime group, tracked as Yahoo Boys, was also identified. The group began attracting attention for orchestrating financial sextortion scams earlier this year.

These attacks were aimed at teenagers in Australia, Canada, and the United States (US). Reports claim that individuals behind these sextortion scams were posing as teenage girls on Instagram and Snapchat.

With such a fabricated persona, they enticed their target into sending explicit photos of themselves. These photos were then used to blackmail them for money. Those who refused would have to face the risk of having the images being sent to their friends.

Meta Platforms Identifying Scam

Meta, a few months ago, has stated that it has developed a new method of identifying accounts engaging in scams. The social media organization also went on to claim that measures that keep such accounts from finding and interacting with teens are being implemented.

It’s worth mentioning here that these actions came as a result of an INTERPOL initiative named Jackal III. This INTERPOL operation targeted organized crime groups, such as Black Axe, in West Africa.

The operation resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of $3 million in illegal assets. Along with 300 arrests, 400 additional suspects were identified, and 720 bank accounts were blocked.

Conclusion

Meta’s decisive action against sextortion scams highlights the ongoing battle against cybercrime. By removing 63,000 scam accounts and collaborating with law enforcement, Meta demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding users and disrupting criminal networks exploiting social media platforms.

The increasing severity of sextortion scams now dictates the use of proactive cybersecurity measures that lower the risk of exposure.

The sources for this piece include articles in The Hacker News and BBC.