Meta announced on Wednesday that it has removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria involved in financial sexual extortion scams targeting adult men in the U.S.
These scammers, known as “Yahoo boys,” often pose as individuals in financial need or Nigerian princes. Additionally, Meta shut down 7,200 Facebook accounts, pages, and groups offering scam tips and a smaller network of around 2,500 accounts linked to 20 individuals.
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While most scam attempts were unsuccessful, some targeted minors, prompting Meta to report to the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This move is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to combat online scams and raise awareness about such threats.