Technology companies like Meta, Microsoft and Google have removed 3.7 million online profiles and accounts and identified $11 million in potentially freezable funds as part of a joint crackdown with law enforcement on fraud networks based in West Africa.
In an operation hosted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in London from 6th to 9th October, 2026, Meta played a central role, which targeted the online infrastructure used by crime groups in Ghana and Nigeria to run investment and impersonation scams against victims in the UK and elsewhere.
More than 100 participants from 15 law enforcement agencies and 15 technology companies, including Meta, Microsoft and Google, took part.
During the operation, Meta disabled more than 1,110 West African Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to data from Report Fraud, while other ad accounts and more than 380 scam domains were also removed.
According to Chris Sonderby, Meta’s vice president and deputy general counsel, scams are a global threat that demand global response.
He said, “As part of the disruption, we removed more than 3.7 million accounts, Pages and Groups targeting people in the US, UK and beyond, and shared leads on over 30 suspected scam centers resulting in dozens of arrests, the rescue of trafficking victims, and cryptocurrency seizures.”
Chris Sonderby acknowledged the partnership during the operation and pledged continuous efforts to “keep working with law enforcement and industry to pursue scammers wherever they operate.”
The online disruption accompanied physical enforcement action that led to almost 30 arrests, primarily in Ghana and Nigeria, the seizure of electronic devices, and the identification of trafficking victims.
Chief Superintendent Amanda Wolf, head of Report Fraud operations, said the joint work showed the value of public reports in building intelligence to disable social media accounts used for fraud.
She outlined some warning signs of investment fraud including;
1. Online adverts promising guaranteed returns or low-risk investments
2. Endorsements from celebrities or well-known figures
3. Being asked to communicate over instant messaging and social media services
4. Invitations to join an exclusive investment group
5. Being instructed not to tell family or friends about your investment
6. Requests for “tax”, release fees or verification fees before withdrawing any funds
7. Ongoing pressure to invest
“Working collaboratively, by sharing information from Report Fraud data with partners and law enforcement agencies, helps us all take down social media accounts that enable fraud and is vital in the fight against fraud”, she added.
Source: National Crime Agency, UK
