Meta has taken significant action against financial sextortion scams by shutting down 63,000 Instagram accounts based in Nigeria.
These accounts were linked to a “loosely organized” group of cybercriminals known as the “Yahoo Boys.”
Earlier this year, Meta introduced measures to combat sextortion scams by automatically sending suspected sextortion messages to users’ hidden requests folder. For users already engaged in conversations with potential scam accounts, Meta displays a safety notice prompting them to report threats involving private images.
Additionally, Meta has made it so that potential sextortion accounts cannot view the “Message” button on teens’ profiles, even if they are connected.
Meta credits new technical signals with helping to track down the network of sextortion accounts. Of the 63,000 accounts removed, 2,500 were part of a coordinated network linked to a group of 20 individuals. This network primarily targeted adult men in the US, though most attempts were unsuccessful. By identifying this network, Meta was able to uncover additional accounts in Nigeria engaging in similar scams, leading to the removal of the rest of the accounts.
In addition to Instagram accounts, Meta removed thousands of Facebook accounts, groups, and pages in Nigeria that provided scammers with tips, fake photos, and scripts. Meta’s system now actively identifies and blocks attempts by these groups to re-establish themselves on the platform.
Meta continues to develop new features to warn users about potential scams. In April, Meta tested a feature that detects images containing nudity and prompts users to reconsider before sending such images via direct message. This feature also allows users to unsend messages and displays warnings to recipients who attempt to forward the images.
