Current:Home > ContactPredictIQ-Sextortion scams run by Nigerian criminals are targeting American men, Meta says -Global Capital Summit
PredictIQ-Sextortion scams run by Nigerian criminals are targeting American men, Meta says
Charles Langston View
Date:2025-04-08 18:51:23
So-called sextortion scams are on the rise, with criminals from Nigeria frequently targeting adult men in the U.S., according to social media giant Meta.
Meta on Wednesday said it has removed about 63,000 accounts from Nigeria that had been attempting to target people with financial sextortion scams. In such scams, criminals pretend to be someone else, typically an attractive woman, in an attempt to trick potential victims into sending nude photos of themselves. Upon receiving nude pics, the scammer then threatens to release the photos unless the sender pays up.
Meta's crackdown on sextortion has included the removal of 200 Facebook pages and 5,700 Facebook groups, all from Nigeria, that were providing tips for conducting such scams, such as scripts for talking with victims. The groups also included links to collections of photos that scammers could use when making fake accounts to catfish victims, Meta said.
Meta is also testing new technology that could steer victims away from falling for sextortion scams, such as a new auto-blur feature in Instagram DMs that will blur images if nudity is detected, the company said.
"First of all, this goes without saying that financial sextortion is a horrific crime and can have devastating consequences," said Antigone Davis, Meta's global head of safety, in a call with reporters. "It's why we are particularly focused on it right now."
The most common platforms for sextortion scams are Instagram, owned by Meta, and Snapchat, according to a recent study from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Thorn, a nonprofit that uses technology to battle the spread of child sexual abuse material. According to the study, most sextortion scams originate from either Nigeria or Cote d'Ivoire.
Indiscriminate scammers
Meta said it found that scammers are "indiscriminate," sending requests to many individuals in order to get a few responses, Davis said. While most of the attempts were sent to adult men in the U.S., Meta did see some scammers trying to reach teens, she added.
Some of the Facebook accounts, pages and groups removed by Meta were run by the Yahoo Boys, a loose federation of scammers that operate in Nigeria, Davis said.
The FBI has sought to highlight the issue of financial sextortion scams targeting teenagers, with the agency noting that at least 20 children who were victims of these scams had died by suicide. Many victims feel fear, embarrassment and concerns about long-term consequences, according to the Thorn and NCMEC report.
Social media users should be cautious if an account with a "very stylized, especially good-looking" photo reaches out to them or asks to exchange messages, Davis said. "If you have never been messaged by this person before, that should give you pause," she added.
"If somebody sends you an image first, that is often to try to bait you to send an image second, or try to gain trust and build trust," Davis noted. "This is one of those areas where if you have any suspicion, I would urge caution."
Social media users should also look at their privacy settings for messaging, she recommended. For instance, people can control their Facebook Messenger settings to filter the people from whom they can receive messages, such as blocking people other than their Facebook friends.
- In:
- Sextortion
- Meta
Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.
TwitterveryGood! (836)
Related
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- What’s next for oil and gas prices as Middle East tensions heat up?
- Yankees' newest October hero Luke Weaver delivers in crazy ALDS opener
- Man charged with helping Idaho inmate escape during a hospital ambush sentenced to life in prison
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Costco says it cut prices on some Kirkland Signature products in earnings call
- Texas high school football players beat opponent with belts after 77-0 victory
- 'Joker: Folie à Deux' ending: Who dies? Who walks? Who gets the last laugh?
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Opinion: KhaDarel Hodge is perfect hero for Falcons in another odds-defying finish
Ranking
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- North Carolina lawmakers to vote on initial Helene relief
- FEMA has faced criticism and praise during Helene. Here’s what it does — and doesn’t do
- North Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- IRS doubles number of states eligible for its free Direct File for tax season 2025
- Colorado judge who sentenced election denier Tina Peters to prison receives threats
- Why this $10,000 Toyota Hilux truck is a great affordable camper
Recommendation
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
Ex- Virginia cop who killed shoplifting suspect acquitted of manslaughter, guilty on firearm charge
David Gilmour says 'absolutely not' for Pink Floyd reunion amid Roger Waters feud
What's the 'Scariest House in America'? HGTV aims to find out
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Ariana DeBose talks 'House of Spoils' and why she's using her platform to get out the vote
MLB playoffs: Four pivotal players for ALDS and NLDS matchups
Maryland cancels debt for parole release, drug testing fees