A global FBI-led campaign targeting scam compounds in Africa resulted in 28 arrests across Ghana and Nigeria last week. Authorities identified more than $11 million in potentially freezable funds, freed or identified more than 120 trafficked workers and located more than 100 potential victims in the United States. In partnership with Meta, investigators also removed more than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, Pages and Groups allegedly linked to fraudulent activity. The actions formed part of Operation Blackout, a wider effort to dismantle foreign scam networks, seize assets and protect victims.
| 1) | Operation Blackout expands across Africa |
| 2) | Arrests, rescues and financial seizures |
| 3) | Social media disruption targets scam infrastructure |
| 4) | Trafficking and victim recovery remain central |
| 5) | Criminal networks adopt new technology and locations |
Operation Blackout expands across Africa
Operation Blackout is the FBI’s global campaign against foreign scam compounds and the transnational criminal groups that operate them. During a Joint Disruption Week based in London, law enforcement agencies conducted raids and seizures in Ghana and Nigeria. The operation was designed to identify criminal actors, disrupt websites and other infrastructure, seize assets and support the recovery of money stolen from victims.
The African actions followed warnings that scam networks were moving beyond established centers in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency was already positioned in central and sub-Saharan Africa to respond to that geographic shift.
Arrests, rescues and financial seizures
Authorities arrested 19 suspects in Ghana and detained them as part of the operation. In Nigeria, nine people were arrested and are expected to face prosecution under Nigerian law. Across the two countries, the operation produced 28 arrests linked to compounds accused of carrying out fraud against people in the United States and elsewhere.
Investigators identified at least $11 million in potentially freezable funds and seized more than 350 devices. The FBI also said it identified more than 100 potential U.S. victims whose losses already exceeded $10 million. These financial and digital seizures are intended to help investigators map the networks and prevent additional transfers.
“Scams are a global threat that demand a global response.”
Chris Sonderby, Meta’s vice president and deputy general counsel, said the company worked with the FBI, the Justice Department, the U.K. National Crime Agency and the Homeland Security Task Force during the disruption effort.
Social media disruption targets scam infrastructure
Meta removed more than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, Pages and Groups allegedly connected to fraudulent activity. The accounts targeted people in the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries, according to the company. Meta also shared leads on more than 30 suspected scam centers, information that authorities said contributed to arrests, rescues and cryptocurrency seizures.
The account takedowns address a key part of the scam model: recruiting targets, building trust and moving conversations across online platforms. Removing accounts and sharing intelligence can make it harder for criminal groups to reach potential victims or replace infrastructure after raids.
Trafficking and victim recovery remain central
The compounds targeted by the initiative are alleged to force trafficked workers to conduct online fraud from facilities far from the victims they contact. In Ghana, 117 victims are pending repatriation to Nigeria, while the FBI said more than 120 trafficked workers were identified overall for possible return to their home countries.
Authorities said the operation was intended not only to arrest alleged organizers but also to free workers and assist people who had lost money. The FBI previously said that many Americans targeted by these schemes are senior citizens, making victim identification and early warnings a significant part of the response.
Criminal networks adopt new technology and locations
The FBI said Operation Blackout has so far resulted in roughly $17 billion in seized assets, hundreds of alleged scammers arrested and thousands of trafficked workers freed. The agency also said it warned more than 10,000 Americans before they lost money, preventing an estimated $670 million in losses.
Officials and industry investigators said criminal groups are increasingly using artificial intelligence for voice cloning and convincing messages and emails, reducing language barriers that once made fraud easier to identify. A separate Justice Department strike force effort in Madagascar previously helped authorities close 13 scam centers operated by Chinese organized crime groups and process more than 3,200 electronic devices.
“AI gives scam fighters powerful new tools.”
That assessment came from Jack Stubbs, a scams investigator who said artificial intelligence can help identify networks and improve cooperation between technology companies and law enforcement.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Twenty-eight arrests were made across Ghana and Nigeria. |
| 2 | More than $11 million in potentially freezable funds and over 350 devices were identified or seized. |
| 3 | More than 3.7 million fraud-linked social media accounts, Pages and Groups were removed. |
| 4 | More than 120 trafficked workers were identified for possible repatriation. |
Summary
The African phase of Operation Blackout combines arrests, asset tracing, digital takedowns and support for trafficking victims. The results show how authorities and technology companies are targeting both the physical compounds and online systems used to operate scams. As networks move into new regions and adopt artificial intelligence, continued international coordination will remain essential to disrupting their reach and limiting losses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Operation Blackout?
Operation Blackout is an FBI-led global campaign to identify and dismantle foreign scam compounds through raids, asset seizures, infrastructure disruption and victim support.
Where were the latest arrests made?
The latest arrests were made in Ghana and Nigeria during a Joint Disruption Week coordinated from London.
How many social media accounts were removed?
More than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, Pages and Groups allegedly linked to fraudulent activity were removed in cooperation with Meta.
What happened to the trafficked workers?
Authorities identified more than 120 trafficked workers, including 117 in Ghana who are pending repatriation to Nigeria.
