Meta Disables 63,000 Instagram Sextortion Based Accounts
Meta Disables 63,000 Instagram Sextortion Based Accounts
Meta announced the removal of 63,000 Instagram accounts associated with sextortion in Nigeria alone.
A loosely organized group of cybercriminals, the Yahoo Boys, were targeted in the action. They primarily operate out of Nigeria and specialize in a variety of schemes.
Meta removed numerous accounts, including approximately 2,500 that were associated with a coordinated group of approximately 20 criminals that primarily targeted adult males in the United States.
For many years, sextortion has been a problem, which involves blackmailing individuals for money in exchange for not disclosing sensitive images and videos. Sextortion and sextortion schemes are occasionally perpetrated by individuals who are acquainted with the target; however, the majority of the time, cybercriminals who have no connection to the victim are responsible.
Furthermore, Meta removed approximately 7,200 assets, including 1,300 Facebook accounts, 200 Facebook Pages, and 5,700 Facebook Groups, all of which were located in Nigeria. These accounts offered comprehensive guides, scripts, and training for the purpose of conducting frauds.
Some residents are purportedly deceived into becoming scammers through predatory “classes” and programs that promise wealth, and Nigeria continues to struggle with its reputation as a source of internet-era fraud (the “Nigerian Prince” email scam is deeply ingrained in the public’s consciousness).
Isaac Oginni, Director of INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC), recently stated this following a successful operation that resulted in the arrest of hundreds of members of West African organized crime groups:
| “The volume of financial fraud stemming from West Africa is alarming and increasing. This operation’s results underscore the critical need for international law enforcement collaboration to combat these extensive criminal networks.” |
Although Meta’s investigation demonstrated that the majority of these scammers’ endeavors were unsuccessful and primarily targeted adults, it did identify some attempts to target juveniles. In January 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported a significant rise in the number of sextortion cases involving children and adolescents. The criminals primarily used threats and coercion to compel the victims to submit explicit images online.
Children are deceived into submitting nude images, which are subsequently used to threaten the victim with exposure, by leading them to believe they are communicating with an individual their own age. The BBC reported on an example of the devastating consequences of sextortion, particularly for young individuals, last month. In that instance, Meta disclosed information regarding a Scottish adolescent who committed suicide after falling victim to a sextortion gang on Instagram.
In February, a US Senate committee accused Meta of failing to adequately safeguard minors online and urged social media giants to improve their practices.
Ranking Member Senator Lindsey Graham held Mark Zuckerberg and the other CEOs to immediate account in his opening statement:
| “Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, I know you don’t mean it to be so but you have blood on your hands. … You have a product that’s killing people.” |
Meta has since stated that it has acquired new signals to identify accounts that may be involved in sextortion. The company is currently implementing measures to prevent these accounts from interacting with teens.
| “Our teams have extensive experience in combating this crime and collaborate closely with experts to identify the strategies employed by scammers, comprehend their evolution, and devise effective strategies to prevent them.” |
These takedowns appear to be a reliable indicator that this is the case. However, it is inevitable that these fraudsters will return to social media platforms to continue their cybercriminal activities.
If young individuals are being exploited, the FBI requests that they disclose the incident as victims of a crime. Report the incident online at tips.fbi.gov, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or contact your local FBI field office.
Stay Safe!
How To Stay Safe From Sextortion?
Listen to what Mr. Mohit Yadav, a renowned cybersecurity expert has to say on this in this few minutes of YouTube video.
About The Author:
Yogesh Naager is a content marketer who specializes in the cybersecurity and B2B space. Besides writing for the News4Hackers blogs, he also writes for brands including Craw Security, Bytecode Security, and NASSCOM.
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