The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a major takedown of a suspected scam centre operation in Ghana, with nearly $10 million in identified losses.
FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed the development in a post on X, saying 89 victims had been identified while more than 130 people had been arrested or detained.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of more than 300 devices, according to Patel.
“Another takedown this week out of Ghana: Nearly $10 million in identified losses so far, 89 victims identified, 130+ individuals arrested or detained (including victims who will be repatriated to home country), and 300+ devices seized,” he wrote.
Patel said the investigation remains ongoing and noted that some of those detained are victims who are expected to be repatriated to their home countries.
He described the operations targeted by the FBI as scam compounds that prey on American citizens.
“These scam compounds target American citizens and destroy lives,” Patel said.
The Ghana operation is part of the FBI’s wider Operation Blackout, which Patel described as the agency’s global effort against scam centre fraud.
He said the broader operation has so far resulted in roughly $17 billion being seized, hundreds of alleged scammers arrested and thousands of trafficked workers freed.
The FBI has also warned more than 10,000 Americans before they lost money to scams, while an estimated $670 million in losses has been prevented, according to Patel.
“More to come,” the FBI Director added.
