The international operation targeted online fraud networks across West Africa, identified more than 30 suspected scam centres and led to 28 arrests and the rescue of 117 trafficking victims in Ghana.

Meta has removed more than 3.7 million accounts, pages and groups from Facebook and Instagram in an international operation targeting organised online scam networks operating in West Africa.

The company announced the removals in a web post on Tuesday, saying the operation involved 14 other technology companies and law enforcement agencies from 10 countries. The coordinated effort also led to the identification of more than 30 suspected scam centres.

According to Meta, law enforcement agencies confirmed the arrest of 28 individuals and the rescue of 117 people who had been trafficked and forced to work in scam compounds in Ghana.

The operation was coordinated by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), in partnership with the United States Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other agencies.

Scam Networks Targeted US, UK Victims

Meta said most of the accounts, pages and groups removed during the operation appeared to target people in the United States and the United Kingdom. The networks allegedly used profiles impersonating American and British users to carry out fraudulent activities.

The schemes targeted by the operation included cryptocurrency investment scams, fake job offers, romance scams, impersonation of law enforcement officers and military personnel, and fraudulent online sales.

The crackdown also targeted scam recovery schemes, in which fraudsters approach previous victims with promises of recovering stolen money in exchange for upfront payments.

Such schemes can expose victims to further financial losses by exploiting their desperation to recover money already stolen from them.

117 Trafficking Victims Rescued in Ghana

The operation also uncovered cases in which people were allegedly trafficked and forced to participate in online fraud.

Meta said the 117 people rescued in Ghana had been held against their will in a residential compound. They reportedly suffered malnutrition as well as physical and psychological abuse.

The arrests and rescues highlight the human cost associated with organised online fraud, in which scam compounds can rely on coercion and trafficking to sustain fraudulent operations.

The identification of more than 30 suspected scam centres also gave authorities and participating companies a basis for further action against the networks involved.

Google, Microsoft, OpenAI Join Operation

The operation brought together technology companies including Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Coinbase, Starlink and Adobe, alongside law enforcement agencies from Nigeria, Ghana, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India.

Meta said the collaboration enabled participants to share intelligence across digital platforms, national borders and financial systems to identify criminal networks and disrupt their operations.

Microsoft also suspended accounts suspected of being linked to the fraudulent activities.

Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange, identified more than 65 active scam victims and prevented potential losses exceeding $415,000, according to the statement.

Chris Sonderby, Meta’s vice-president and deputy general counsel, said the operation demonstrated the importance of cooperation between technology companies and law enforcement agencies.

He said Meta would continue working with its partners to pursue scammers and disrupt their operations wherever they operate.

Nick Sharp, NCA deputy director of fraud, said the collaboration helped authorities target criminals responsible for fraud affecting thousands of victims. He added that the agency would continue working with international and private-sector partners to tackle cross-border fraud networks.

Crackdown Targets Organised Online Fraud

The operation comes amid growing concerns over organised online fraud and the use of scam centres to coordinate fraudulent campaigns against people around the world.

Such networks may recruit or traffic workers, train them in deception techniques and organise schemes designed to extract money or sensitive information from unsuspecting victims.

The recovery scams targeted in the operation are particularly concerning because they exploit people who have already suffered financial losses, promising assistance while demanding additional payments.

Meta said cooperation between technology companies and law enforcement agencies was essential to disrupting these networks and ensuring that those responsible faced consequences.

The company said: “Tech companies play a pivotal role in disrupting scam operations. But meaningful progress ultimately depends on real consequences for the criminal organizations behind these schemes.”

It added that cooperation between industry and law enforcement could help deliver those consequences, describing the approach as a model that participating organisations were committed to sustaining.

The operation underscores the role of cross-border intelligence sharing in tackling online fraud, particularly when criminal networks use multiple platforms, financial systems and jurisdictions to target victims.