Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has taken action against the notorious “Yahoo Boys” scam group, removing 63,000 associated accounts. This announcement was made in the Q1 2024 Adversarial Threat Report released on Wednesday.
Over the past few weeks, Meta has deleted accounts involved in financial sextortion scams and the distribution of blackmail scripts. Approximately 2,500 accounts, connected to about 20 individuals, were specifically targeting adult men in the United States by assuming fake identities.
The company revealed that a combination of advanced technical signals and thorough investigations enabled the identification and deactivation of these accounts, bolstering its automated detection systems.
Describing financial sextortion as a transnational crime, Meta pointed to the surge in activities of Yahoo Boys in recent years. These loosely organized cybercriminals, predominantly operating from Nigeria, specialize in various scam techniques,” stated the social media conglomerate.
Meta elaborated, “We have eliminated around 63,000 Nigerian accounts that were involved in attempts to scam individuals through financial sextortion. This also includes a coordinated network of about 2,500 accounts.”
Furthermore, the company stated, “We have also shut down a range of Facebook accounts, Pages, and groups connected to Yahoo Boys, in violation of our Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy. These accounts were engaged in activities such as organization, recruitment, and training of new scammers.”
During their investigations, Meta observed that most scam attempts were unsuccessful, although some minors had been targeted. Incidents involving minors were promptly reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Meta disclosed that it had collaborated with other tech firms through the Tech Coalition’s Lantern program to minimize such scams on various platforms.
Moreover, the parent company of Facebook disclosed that it had eradicated approximately 7,200 assets in Nigeria, comprising 1,300 Facebook accounts, 200 pages, and 5,700 groups providing resources related to scams.
These assets were found distributing scam scripts and guides, as well as sharing links to photo collections for creating fake accounts,” it elaborated.
Following the disruption, Meta’s systems have been actively blocking attempts by these groups to resurface, continuously enhancing their detection mechanisms,” the company noted.
The company emphasized its close collaboration with law enforcement, aiding investigations and prosecutions by promptly responding to legal requests and alerting authorities about potential threats.
Meta clarified that its efforts extend beyond simply removing accounts.
“We also support NCMEC and the International Justice Mission through Project Boost, a program that trains law enforcement agencies globally in acting on NCMEC reports.
Several training sessions have already been held, including in Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, with the latest session occurring just last month,” the company revealed.
To bolster user protection, especially for adolescents, Meta indicated that it had implemented stricter messaging settings for users under 16 (18 in some regions) and displays safety messages to promote cautious online behavior.
Last week, Meta faced a $220 million fine from Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission for numerous violations of data protection laws related to WhatsApp.
The investigation, initiated in May 2021, found that Meta’s privacy policies encroached upon users’ rights through unauthorized data sharing and discriminatory practices.
Meta intends to challenge the ruling, asserting its disagreement with the conclusions and the penalty imposed. The FCCPC’s aim is to ensure fair treatment of Nigerian users and compliance with local regulations.