Meta and Global Police Partners Delete 3.7 Million Accounts and Arrest 28 in Massive West Africa Scam Crackdown

Meta and global police delete 3.7 million fake accounts, arrest 28 suspects, and rescue 117 victims in a major crackdown on West African scams.

Meta, together with 14 big technology firms and police agencies from ten countries, has carried out a massive global crackdown on online scam networks operating across West Africa.

The official results of the joint operation were publicly announced on October 13, 2026, marking the largest coordinated action ever launched against digital fraud rings in the region.

Under this major global operation code-named Joint Disruption Week, social media giant Meta permanently removed over 3.7 million fake accounts, business pages, and private chat groups from Facebook and Instagram.

At the same time, law enforcement officers arrested 28 suspected online fraudsters and rescued one hundred and seventeen people who were tricked and forced to work inside illegal scam compounds.

Hosted by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency in London alongside the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, the operation brought together police units from Nigeria, Ghana, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and India.

Technology platforms including Google, Microsoft, and Binance also shared direct digital clues, helping authorities block over $11million in stolen money.

Stopping online scam networks is very important for everyday citizens, local business owners, and phone users across Nigeria and West Africa.

In recent years, international internet scammers have used fake social media accounts to trick innocent people out of their hard-earned money through fake love promises, fake job offers, and fake money investment schemes.

These bad online activities hurt honest citizens who lose their savings, while making foreign businesses and investors afraid to trade with African companies.

By deleting fake profiles, arresting ringleaders, and freezing stolen funds, global police teams are making the internet safer for everyday people while protecting the good name of honest African workers.

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Explaining how police forces from different nations are working together to stop online thieves no matter where they hide, senior law enforcement leaders praised the joint operation.

Warning criminals that physical distance can no longer protect them from justice, Nick Sharp, Deputy Director of Fraud at the United Kingdom National Crime Agency, stated that “fraudsters can operate from anywhere”.

Highlighting how technology platforms and police agencies must combine tools to protect regular citizens from falling into online traps, global security officials emphasized the value of shared digital evidence.

Explaining how joining hands makes digital spaces safer for everyone, Kelly Milliron, Acting Chief of Staff at the United States Department of Justice, stated that the collaboration provides a “consolidated approach bringing solutions and safety to citizens through joint targeting”.

Local police units in Nigeria and Ghana are continuing to monitor online networks. As social media platforms upgrade their automatic detection software, government agencies are urging everyday citizens to report suspicious accounts and protect their personal information online.