Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has taken action against 1,600 Facebook groups linked to ‘Yahoo Boys’—online scammers known for internet fraud.
The term “Yahoo Boys” emerged from the widespread use of Yahoo email for scams in Nigeria during the 2000s. These fraudsters are infamous for orchestrating elaborate schemes that deceive victims with promises of wealth in exchange for advance payments.This latest crackdown follows a similar move in July, when Meta removed 7,200 accounts and pages, and recently deleted 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria associated with financial sextortion scams.In a statement released on Thursday, Meta explained that these Facebook groups were being used to recruit and train new scammers. The company emphasized that “Yahoo Boys” are banned under Meta’s Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy. “This is one of our strictest policies, and we immediately remove accounts involved in criminal activities once identified,” Meta stated.Meta also highlights its commitment to addressing the issue more efficiently by enhancing its processes for removing such accounts. As part of its broader efforts, Meta has introduced new safety features to protect users, especially teenagers, from sextortion scams. These measures include blocking suspicious accounts from following teens and restricting scammers’ access to follower lists to reduce blackmail attempts.“We’re continually updating our defenses to safeguard our community against sextortion schemes. This includes educating teens and their families to spot scams early, limiting scammers’ reach, and working with industry partners to combat these criminals across platforms,” Meta affirmed.
