International week of action against West African scam networks leads to 28 arrests
Law enforcement and private companies acted against scam networks in West Africa, removing more than 3.7 million online accounts and identifying at least $11 million in potentially freezable funds.
On October 13, 2026, the US Department of Justice announced the results of a joint disruption week against transnational scam networks operating in West Africa. The operation took place during the week of October 6, 2026, and was hosted by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) in London. The DOJ calls it the first coordinated effort focused specifically on West Africa.
Participants included US agencies such as the FBI, the US Secret Service and Treasury, along with authorities in Nigeria and Ghana, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and INTERPOL. Private companies including Meta, Google, Microsoft, Binance, Coinbase, Chainalysis, Elliptic and TRM Labs also took part.
According to the DOJ, private partners removed more than 3.7 million accounts, Pages and Groups. There were 28 arrests: 19 in Ghana and 9 in Nigeria. Authorities seized 303 devices in Ghana and 53 in Nigeria, and at least $11 million in potentially freezable funds was identified. In Ghana, 117 trafficking victims were identified and are pending repatriation to Nigeria.
The DOJ says the targeted schemes included law enforcement impersonation, digital arrest extortion and cryptocurrency investment fraud, often called pig butchering, with many victims in the US and the UK.
Why it matters to AML professionals
Scam proceeds pass through bank accounts, crypto exchanges and payment apps before they leave the victim's country. Joint actions between police and private firms show that account and transaction data held by financial institutions can help disrupt these networks. AML professionals should expect more requests to identify and freeze scam-linked funds quickly.
Red flags in this case
- Elderly or first-time customers sending large transfers to new crypto exchange accounts
- Customers who say they are under investigation and must move money to a safe account
- Accounts receiving many small payments from unrelated individuals and quickly sending them abroad
- Payments linked to online investment platforms that promise high returns
If this landed in your queue
- Contact the customer to check whether they are being directed by someone claiming to be police or an investor
- Trace where the funds went and whether onward accounts show signs of mule activity
- Act quickly on recall and freeze options when a scam is confirmed
- Document the typology clearly in any SAR so investigators can link related cases
Key terms
- Pig butchering
- A scam where criminals build trust with a victim over time and then persuade them to put money into a fake investment.
- Digital arrest
- A scam where criminals pretend to be police online and pressure victims to pay to avoid a fake arrest.
Interview angle
What signs would make you suspect a customer is a victim of an investment scam?
Mention sudden large transfers to new crypto accounts, pressure or secrecy from a third party, promised high returns and changes from the customer's normal behaviour.
Sources
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