Overview
Financial sextortion, a borderless crime often orchestrated by loosely organized cybercriminals known as Yahoo Boys operating out of Nigeria, has seen a surge in recent years. Meta is addressing this growing threat by leveraging advanced detection techniques and collaborating with experts, law enforcement, and the tech industry to disrupt and prevent these scams.
Key Actions Taken
- Instagram Account Removal: Approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts from Nigeria were removed due to their involvement in financial sextortion scams. This included a coordinated network of about 2,500 accounts linked to a group of 20 individuals targeting primarily adult men in the US.
- Facebook Assets Removal: Around 7,200 Facebook assets, including 1,300 accounts, 200 Pages, and 5,700 Groups, were also removed. These assets were involved in sharing tips, scripts, and resources for conducting scams.
Strategic Network Disruption
Following the Q1 2024 Adversarial Threat Report, Meta announced the disruption of two significant networks in Nigeria:
- Instagram Accounts: A strategic removal of approximately 63,000 accounts, including a coordinated network of 2,500, aimed at financial sextortion. Advanced technical signals and in-depth investigations by expert teams were key to identifying these accounts.
- Facebook Assets: Removal of 7,200 assets involved in scam tactics, including guides and links for creating fake profiles.
Preventative Measures
- Enhanced Detection Systems: Meta’s systems have been upgraded to automatically identify and block reattempts from these groups. Lessons learned from tackling terrorist groups and coordinated inauthentic behavior have been applied to improve detection and removal capabilities.
- Support for Law Enforcement: Meta supports law enforcement in prosecuting these crimes by responding to valid legal requests and alerting authorities about imminent threats. The company also funds Project Boost, training law enforcement globally to handle such cases effectively.
Protecting Users
Meta has implemented several features to help users avoid these scams and protect vulnerable groups:
- Stricter Message Settings for Teens: Default settings for users under 16 (under 18 in certain countries) restrict messaging from unconnected users, with Safety Notices encouraging caution.
- On-Device Nudity Protection: A new feature in Instagram DMs blurs images containing nudity, encourages caution, and provides links to safety tips and resources, such as NCMEC’s Take It Down platform.
Collaboration and Ongoing Efforts
Meta continues to collaborate with child safety experts, law enforcement, and other tech companies to combat financial sextortion across platforms. The Tech Coalition’s Lantern program plays a crucial role in sharing information to take collective action against these crimes.
Conclusion
Financial sextortion is a grave threat with potentially devastating consequences. Meta remains committed to disrupting these criminal activities by staying ahead of evolving tactics, improving detection systems, and working closely with global partners to ensure user safety across its platforms.