FBI operation targets scam compounds in Africa with arrests, account takedowns

The FBI's expanded global efforts to disrupt and dismantle sprawling scam compounds that prey on Americans netted multiple arrests in Africa last week, as well as millions of dollars in potentially freezable funds and the takedown of social media accounts tied to fraud, officials said.

Operation Blackout is the FBIs global campaign to identify and dismantle foreign scam compounds through overseas raids, asset seizures and the disruption of web domains and infrastructure linked to scam networks.

Authorities also worked to rescue trafficked workers and return stolen money to victims.

"Thanks to a brilliant partnership with the Department of Justice, across multiple African countries, we arrested 28 alleged criminal actors, seized over 350 devices, identified at least $11 million in potentially freezable funds, freed over 100 trafficked workers, and identified over 100 potential scam victims here at home," FBI Director Kash Patel exclusively told Fox News Digital.

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"This is what happens when law enforcement executes with precision across the inter-agency," Patel added. "We are demolishing criminal scam centers across the globe and truly saving lives."

In a series of initiatives stemming from the larger FBI operation, authorities conducted law enforcement raids and seizures last week as part of a "Joint Disruption Week" based out of London that resulted in 28 arrests across Ghana and Nigeria.

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In addition to the arrests, authorities identified more than 100 scam victims with losses so far exceeding $10 million.

The more than 120 trafficked workers identified are slated to be repatriated, the FBI said.

Additionally, more than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts allegedly linked to fraudulent activity were taken down in partnership with Meta.

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"Scams are a global threat that demand a global response," Chris Sonderby, vice president and deputy general counsel for Meta, said in a news release from the tech giant regarding last week's operations. "Working with the U.K. National Crime Agency, the FBI, DOJ and the Homeland Security Task Force, we took the fight to scam centers across West Africa.

"As part of the disruption, we removed more than 3.7 million accounts, Pages and Groups targeting people in the U.S., U.K., and beyond, and shared leads on over 30 suspected scam centers resulting in dozens of arrests, the rescue of trafficking victims and cryptocurrency seizures," Sonderby added.

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In Ghana, 117 victims are pending repatriation to Nigeria, and 19 suspects were arrested and detained. In Nigeria, local authorities will prosecute