Scourge of fraud in Nigeria. A potential threat to iGaming players

Large-Scale Profile Removal

In addition to the mass profile takedown, Meta also removed around 7,200 other resources. This included 1,300 Facebook profiles, 200 Pages, and 5,700 Groups. These resources were instrumental in running the scams, offering tips, scripted conversations, and links to image collections for creating fake identities.

Most financial sextortion attempts were directed at adult men in the United States, although these scams saw limited success. There were instances where minors were targeted, leading Meta to report these cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Yahoo Boys

Financial sextortion is a borderless crime with a growing global footprint, often driven by Nigerian cybercriminals known as Yahoo Boys. These scammers engage in a variety of fraudulent activities, including sextortion, which frequently begins with online romance scams. Nigeria plays a significant role in such frauds across Africa.

To address this issue, Meta is testing new technologies designed to protect users from sextortion scams. One such feature is an auto-blur function in Instagram direct messages, which automatically blurs images if nudity is detected, thereby enhancing user safety.

Huge Fine for Meta

Let’s recall that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) recently fined Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, $220 million (over 300 billion yen), accusing the tech giant of improperly using Nigerian users’ data.

The core of FCCPC’s allegations focuses on Meta’s alleged misuse of market power to enforce privacy policies, including unauthorized data collection from users. The Commission claims that Meta did not obtain proper consent from users before collecting their information. We wrote more about this in this REPORT.

The iGaming Sector under Threat?

iGaming enthusiasts need to be particularly vigilant, as scammers are increasingly targeting mobile games. These fraudsters exploit the growing popularity of mobile gaming by infiltrating gaming platforms and communities, aiming to deceive players through various tactics. They often create fake profiles, offer in-game purchases at discounted rates, or promise exclusive content to lure victims.

The rise in such fraudulent activities necessitates stronger security measures and user awareness within the iGaming community to safeguard against potential threats. It is essential for players to stay informed and vigilant to protect themselves from these evolving scams.