Meta has taken down approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria involved in running sexual extortion scams. The company has also removed thousands of Facebook groups and pages that were attempting to organize, recruit, and train new scammers. This move comes as part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to combat online sexual exploitation and protect its users from such malicious activities.
Sexual extortion, commonly known as sextortion, involves coercing individuals into sending explicit photos online and then threatening to expose these images unless the victim pays money or engages in sexual favors. This criminal practice has been on the rise, with recent high-profile cases drawing significant attention. Notably, two Nigerian brothers pleaded guilty to sexually extorting teenage boys and young men in Michigan, one of whom tragically took his own life. In another case, a Virginia sheriff’s deputy was convicted of sexually extorting and kidnapping a 15-year-old girl.
Meta has identified a noticeable increase in sextortion cases in recent years, partly attributed to a loosely organized group called the Yahoo Boys, who operate primarily out of Nigeria. In response, Meta has applied its “dangerous organizations and individuals” policy to remove Facebook accounts and groups associated with this group. “Because they’re driven by money, their targeting can be indiscriminate,” said Antigone Davis, Meta’s global head of safety. “So, in other words, think of this as a little bit of a scattershot approach: get out there and send many, many, requests out to individuals and see who may respond.”
In January, the FBI warned of a “huge increase” in sextortion cases targeting children. The primary victims are boys between the ages of 14 and 17, although the FBI notes that any child can become a victim. Meta’s investigation revealed that most of the scammers’ attempts were unsuccessful and primarily targeted adult men in the U.S. However, some scammers did attempt to target minors, which Meta reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The accounts removed by Meta included a “coordinated network” of about 2,500 accounts linked to a group of approximately 20 people who were managing them.
To combat sexual extortion and protect young people, Meta announced in April that it was deploying new tools on Instagram. These tools include a feature that automatically blurs nudity in direct messages. Meta is still testing these features as part of its broader campaign to fight sexual scams and other forms of “image abuse,” making it more challenging for criminals to contact teenagers.
Davis advises users to be cautious of messages from people with “highly stylized” photos, individuals who are “exceptionally good-looking,” or those who have never sent a message before. “That should give you pause,” she said. Users should also be wary if someone sends an image first, as scammers often use this tactic to try to gain trust and bait unsuspecting individuals into sending a photo of themselves. “This is one of these areas where if you have any sort of suspicion, I would urge caution,” she said.
Meta’s efforts to combat sextortion and other online scams are part of a broader initiative to ensure the safety and security of its users. The company is continually improving its tools and policies to detect and remove malicious accounts and content. By doing so, Meta aims to create a safer online environment where users can interact without fear of exploitation.
In addition to deploying new tools, Meta is also working closely with law enforcement agencies and organizations dedicated to protecting children and vulnerable individuals from online exploitation. By collaborating with these entities, Meta hopes to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of these crimes, bringing them to justice and preventing further harm.
