An international operation targeting suspected scam networks in West Africa has led to 28 arrests and the removal of millions of online accounts, pages and groups.
The National Crime Agency hosted more than 100 law enforcement and technology industry representatives in London from 6 to 9 October to coordinate action against fraud targeting victims in Britain and elsewhere.
Participants included agencies from Ghana and Nigeria, the FBI and companies including Meta, Microsoft and Google.
Authorities arrested 19 people and seized 303 electronic devices in Sasaabi, in Ghana’s Accra region. They also identified 117 trafficking victims awaiting return to Nigeria.
Nine further arrests were made in Nigeria’s Delta State, where laptops, phones and routers were seized.
Meta said it removed more than 3.7 million accounts, pages and groups as part of the disruption.
Private sector partners identified approximately $11 million in potentially freezable funds. This does not mean the money has been recovered or returned to victims.
The operation targeted schemes including investment and impersonation fraud.
NCA deputy director of fraud Nick Sharp said international cooperation was essential to tackling criminals operating across borders.
Warning signs of investment fraud include promises of guaranteed returns, pressure to invest quickly and demands for additional fees before withdrawals are allowed.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted can report fraud at reportfraud.police.uk.
Source: National Crime Agency and US Department of Justice
