Operation Blackout Disrupts West African Scam Centers, Leads to Arrests and Rescues
Summary
Operation Blackout brought law enforcement and industry partners together against West African scam networks. Authorities reported arrests and rescued trafficking victims; Silent Push says it mapped criminal infrastructure to support the operation.
Key points
- The UK’s National Crime Agency hosted Operation Blackout in London, involving law enforcement and private-sector partners from multiple countries targeting scam networks operating in West Africa.
- Silent Push says it identified 37,041 financial-crime domains over the past year, created more than 70 detection rules, identified 173 high-risk infrastructure nodes, and shared 11 intelligence reports.
- The company says its mapping of domains, hosting, and communications infrastructure, combined with attribution analysis, helped investigators connect digital assets to physical locations and operators.
- The U.S. Department of Justice reported 28 arrests: 19 in Ghana and nine in Nigeria. Authorities also seized hundreds of electronic devices.
- Authorities identified 117 people trafficked and forced to work in a Ghanaian scam compound; the DOJ said they were awaiting repatriation to Nigeria.
- Meta said it removed more than 3.7 million West Africa-based Facebook and Instagram accounts, Pages, and Groups, and shared leads on more than 30 suspected scam centers.
- The DOJ said partners identified more than $11 million in potentially freezable funds. The article says the broader investigation is continuing.
Article Details
- Event Type
- International law-enforcement and private-sector operation, Operation Blackout, disrupted scam centers operating in West Africa.
- Impact
- Authorities reported 28 arrests, the identification and rescue of 117 trafficking victims, and the seizure of hundreds of electronic devices. Meta removed more than 3.7 million accounts, Pages, and Groups from Facebook and Instagram and shared leads on more than 30 suspected scam centers. Private-sector partners identified more than $11 million in potentially freezable funds. Silent Push reported identifying 37,041 financial-crime domains over the prior year and mapping infrastructure linked to the networks.
People
Vendors
MetaAlongside the NCA, DOJ, FBI, Meta, and partners across 10 countries, Silent Push mapped adversary infrastructure behind West African scam centers during Joint Disruption Week in London.Silent PushAlongside the NCA, DOJ, FBI, Meta, and partners across 10 countries, Silent Push mapped adversary infrastructure behind West African scam centers during Joint Disruption Week in London.
Products
FacebookMeta removed more than 3.7 million West Africa-based accounts, Pages, and Groups from Facebook and Instagram, many impersonating American and British users.InstagramMeta removed more than 3.7 million West Africa-based accounts, Pages, and Groups from Facebook and Instagram, many impersonating American and British users.
Countries
GhanaInvestigators and industry partners traded intelligence across platforms, jurisdictions, and financial systems, then moved against scam centers in Nigeria, Ghana, and neighboring countries.NigeriaInvestigators and industry partners traded intelligence across platforms, jurisdictions, and financial systems, then moved against scam centers in Nigeria, Ghana, and neighboring countries.United KingdomMany of those operations targeted victims in the United States and the United Kingdom.United StatesMany of those operations targeted victims in the United States and the United Kingdom.