West African ‘romance scammers’ who were ‘targeting lonely British pensioners’ are arrested in London-led sting
Authorities in Ghana and Nigeria arrested 28 people suspected of targeting victims in Britain and the US with online fraud, in an operation coordinated by British agencies. The arrests highlight how romance scams can lead into investment fraud and other schemes aimed at people through social media.
In Ghana, police arrested 19 people, seized 303 electronic devices and identified 117 trafficking victims; Nigerian police arrested nine people and seized laptops, phones and routers. Meta said it shut down 3.7 million profiles linked to scams, while investigators found $11 million (£8.3 million) in funds that could potentially be frozen. Authorities have not said how many identified victims were British or how much individuals lost.
- 28 suspected fraudsters were arrested in Ghana and Nigeria.
- Romance scams were linked to investment fraud and other schemes.
- Investigators identified 117 trafficking victims and found $11 million in potential funds.
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Romance scams involve fraudsters building online relationships to win someone’s trust, then asking for money or steering them towards fake investments. Contact often starts on social media, where scammers may use false names and profiles.
The arrests in Ghana and Nigeria form part of an investigation coordinated by British agencies into suspected fraud affecting people in Britain and the US. Police also identified people who may have been trafficked, while Meta said it removed millions of profiles linked to scams.
The case shows how personal contact online can lead into financial fraud, and how investigations can involve several countries and technology companies. Authorities have not said how many British people were identified as victims or how much they lost.