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Meta Deletes 3.7 Million Accounts As Ghana Raid Uncovers Forced-Labor Scam Hub
Meta Deletes 3.7 Million Accounts As Ghana Raid Uncovers Forced-Labor Scam Hub
Meta removed 3.7 million accounts, pages, and groups across Facebook and Instagram.
Authorities in Ghana arrested 28 suspects and rescued 117 human trafficking victims.
Fourteen tech firms and ten national governments joined forces to break up the cross-border network.
The operation reveals how West African fraud rings use captive workers to run global scams.
October 14, () – Meta has wiped 3.7 million accounts, pages, and groups from Facebook and Instagram after an international operation uncovered a human trafficking ring running a forced-labour scam compound in Ghana.
The crackdown, led by the UK National Crime Agency and the US Department of Justice alongside Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities, resulted in the arrest of 28 suspects and the rescue of 117 people held hostage inside a residential compound in Ghana.
Police reported that the captives suffered physical abuse and malnutrition while being forced to run online fraud schemes targeting users in the United States and the United Kingdom.
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Captives Forced To Run Global Fraud Schemes
The rescued victims operated a wide range of fraudulent schemes under threat of violence. These included fake job offers, cryptocurrency traps, romance impersonations, and fraudulent sales.
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The syndicate also forced workers to execute recovery scams, contacting previous fraud victims and promising to retrieve their stolen money in exchange for advance fees.
“Tech companies play a pivotal role in disrupting scam operations”, Meta said in a joint statement following the operation. “But meaningful progress ultimately depends on real consequences for the criminal organisations behind these schemes.”
Fourteen Tech Giants Track Digital Footprints
Technology firms shared cross platform data to track fraud networks globally Source Getty Images
Fourteen technology companies participated in the operation, including Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Starlink, Adobe, and Coinbase. The firms shared cross-platform data with police agencies across ten countries to track the syndicate’s digital footprint and financial channels.
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase identified 65 active victims during the raid, blocking transactions and preventing more than $415,000 in losses. Meanwhile, Microsoft suspended communications accounts linked to the group.
“This model of industry and law enforcement working side by side delivers those consequences, and Meta and our partners are committed to ensuring its ongoing strength and repeatability”, the joint statement said.
Chris Sonderby, Meta’s vice president and deputy general counsel, noted that the joint action shows how tech companies and police must coordinate to disrupt organised networks. He confirmed that Meta will continue working with international partners to pursue fraud syndicates.
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