An international law enforcement operation targeting cryptocurrency fraud networks in West Africa has resulted in 28 arrests, the removal of 3.7 million fraudulent social media accounts, and the identification of more than $11 million in potentially freezable funds tied to suspected criminal operations.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the results on October 13, following a coordinated campaign against scam centers operating in Ghana and Nigeria. The effort brought together law enforcement agencies, cryptocurrency companies, and technology platforms to disrupt financial fraud networks that target victims worldwide.

Enforcement Action in Ghana and Nigeria

The campaign, known as Joint Disruption Week, began October 6 and paired international investigators with private technology companies.

In Ghana, authorities arrested 19 suspects in Sasaabi, near Accra, and seized 303 electronic devices. Investigators also identified 117 human trafficking victims who are awaiting repatriation to Nigeria, a detail that underscores the human exploitation involved in these operations alongside the financial harm. Officials additionally identified 89 fraud victims who collectively lost approximately $8.3 million.

In Nigeria, authorities arrested nine suspects and confiscated 53 electronic devices.

The schemes under investigation included cryptocurrency investment scams, impersonation schemes, and digital extortion operations. In many cases, criminals cultivated relationships with victims before persuading them to move money into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, making the victim's own trust the entry point for the fraud.

Technology Platforms Strip Away Scammers' Digital Infrastructure

The crackdown went beyond physical raids, striking at the digital infrastructure scammers relied on to reach potential victims. Meta removed more than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages, and groups connected to fraudulent activity, while participating companies shared intelligence on more than 30 suspected scam centers. The scale of the account removals reflects how much online reach these networks had built up to identify and engage targets.

Cryptocurrency exchanges Coinbase and Binance joined blockchain analytics firms and other technology providers in supporting the operation. Coinbase separately identified more than 65 active scam victims and prevented over $415,000 in potential losses, an example of how exchange-side monitoring can lead to direct victim interventions alongside physical arrests. Private-sector investigators also flagged more than $11 million in funds that authorities could potentially freeze, although identifying recoverable assets does not guarantee their seizure or eventual return to victims.

Rising Crypto Fraud Losses Drive Global Enforcement

The operation comes as losses from cryptocurrency investment fraud continue to mount. According to FBI figures, reported losses tied to cryptocurrency investment scams exceeded $7.2 billion in 2025, a 24% annual increase. Cryptocurrency-related fraud accounted for 72% of reported investment scam complaints that year.

Authorities increasingly view coordinated enforcement as essential because criminal networks operate across national borders and across multiple digital platforms. The West African crackdown illustrates a broader strategy that combines arrests, financial investigations, and platform-level account removals. Officials expect continued international cooperation to help dismantle fraudulent networks and cut off their access to potential victims. Near-term markers include whether the more than $11 million in flagged funds are ultimately frozen, the repatriation of the 117 identified trafficking victims, and additional joint actions under the same public-private model.