Operation disrupts 3.7 million scam accounts in West Africa
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Law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom and the United States dismantled over 3.7 million fraudulent online accounts, pages, and groups connected to scam operations in West Africa.
The coordinated effort, called 'Joint Disruption Week', focused on disrupting criminal networks in Nigeria, Ghana, and other African countries that target victims worldwide. Authorities in Ghana arrested 19 people and seized 303 electronic devices, also identifying 117 human trafficking victims and 89 scam victims who lost around $8.3 million.
In Nigeria, nine people were arrested and 53 electronic devices were confiscated during the operation. The scams involved impersonating law enforcement, extorting money with false arrest threats, and fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, often called “pig butchering”, where criminals gain trust before defrauding investors. More than 100 law enforcement agencies, tech companies, and international partners collaborated during the operation, sharing intelligence and disabling scam infrastructure. Private sector partners also identified over $11 million in funds potentially subject to seizure.
Officials noted that this operation, the first of its kind targeting West Africa, builds on previous efforts to shut down scam centers in Southeast Asia, recognizing that fraud is a global issue requiring international cooperation.
