Meta takes down thousands of Instagram and Facebook accounts linked to sextortion

The Instagram logo is seen on a cellphone. Michael Dwyer/AP

Michael Dwyer/AP

LAGOS, Nigeria — Meta has removed about 63,000 Instagram accounts registered in Nigeria connected to sextortion scams, the social media company said Wednesday.

They included one network of 2,500 accounts that were linked to a group of about 20 people. Meta said it also removed more than 7,000 Facebook accounts, pages and groups also in Nigeria that were providing tips for conducting scams.

Sextortion is a scam in which a cybercriminal obtains and then threatens to release nude or sexually compromising photos, blackmailing victims for a ransom.

The

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