The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested 22 Nigerians for allegedly being connected to financially motivated sextortion schemes that have led to a rise in suicides among American teenagers.
The arrests were made during a global operation in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from Nigeria, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Alarming Statistics
The FBI reported a 30% increase in sextortion-related tips between October 2024 and March 2025 compared to the previous year.
According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, there were over 54,000 victims in 2024, resulting in nearly $65 million in financial losses. Most victims are boys aged 14 to 17, with over 20 minor victims dying by suicide.
Modus Operandi
The suspects allegedly posed as young women on social media, building trust with teenage boys before coercing them into sharing explicit content.
They would then demand payment via gift cards, mobile payments, or cryptocurrency, threatening to make public the content if their demands were not met.
International Cooperation
The operation, codenamed “Operation Artemis,” highlights the importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime.
The FBI worked with law enforcement agencies from several countries to identify and apprehend the suspects.
Extraditions and Prosecution
Several suspects have been extradited to the United States to face charges related to sextortion and death of young victims. The FBI director emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and pursuing perpetrators of heinous crimes.