Operation Blackout Disrupted West African Scam Networks Through Public-Private Cooperation
Summary
Operation Blackout coordinated law enforcement and industry partners against West African scam networks. The DOJ announced dozens of arrests, trafficking-victim rescues and the removal of more than 3.7 million fake social media accounts.
Key points
- Operation Blackout brought together UK and US law enforcement, Nigerian and Ghanaian agencies, and private-sector partners to disrupt pig-butchering, romance and cryptocurrency scams.
- The DOJ announced that the campaign led to dozens of arrests, rescued trafficking victims and removed more than 3.7 million fake social media accounts.
- FBI Internet Complaint Center and UK National Cyber Security Centre scam reports helped provide an initial basis for the operation; law enforcement also compiled information about scammers’ domains and infrastructure.
- Silent Push provided 35,000 domains, more than 70 detection rules and fingerprinting, according to its director Michael Sweeney.
- Meta contributed data that helped narrow activity to specific regions, while other organizations shared signals about the scammers’ intent and infrastructure.
- Sweeney said partners used shared intelligence to identify network patterns and support enforcement action; he called for faster and more frequent operations.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Coordinated international law enforcement and private-sector operation to disrupt criminal networks operating out of West Africa and involved in pig-butchering, romance, and cryptocurrency scams.
- Impact
- The U.S. Department of Justice reported dozens of arrests, the rescue of trafficking victims, and the removal of more than 3.7 million fake social media accounts. Partners shared intelligence and information about scam domains and infrastructure.
People
Vendors
MetaU.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and private industry partners — including Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Silent Push — to disrupt criminal networks behind pig-butchering, romance, andMicrosoftof Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and private industry partners — including Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Silent Push — to disrupt criminal networks behind pig-butchering, romance, andOpenAIJustice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and private industry partners — including Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Silent Push — to disrupt criminal networks behind pig-butchering, romance, and cryptocurrency scams.Silent PushAs director of preemptive cyberdefense at Silent Push, Michael Sweeney had a front-row seat to this kind of partnership when his company recently took part in "Operation Blackout," a coordinated international operationStarlinkA number of providers were also involved, including Starlink. While each platform offers different services, they united in a shared stance. That camaraderie and energy that accompanied it were palpable, says Sweeney.
Countries
Nigeriaauthorities and private industry partners, the Nigerian Joint Case Team on Cybercrimes, the Nigeria Police Force - National Cybercrime Center, and Ghanaian Cyber Security Authority also participated.United Kingdomdown criminal networks operating out of West Africa. Operation Blackout coordinated efforts by the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, andUnited Statesof West Africa. Operation Blackout coordinated efforts by the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and private industry partners — including