FBI Dismantles Scam Center in Ghana and Seizes 300+ Devices in Operation Blackout

Authorities have dismantled a scam center in Ghana as part of the FBI’s Operation Blackout, identifying 89 victims and seizing more than 300 devices.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the action uncovered nearly $10 million in losses and that authorities arrested or detained more than 130 people. The investigation remains ongoing.

According to Patel on X, the detained group included victims who would be returned to their home countries. That distinction matters: the total does not represent 130 confirmed scammers.

People forced to work inside scam centers can also be victims of human trafficking, rather than willing members of a fraud network.

Ghana Raid Targets Online Fraud

The announcement places Ghana within a wider campaign against overseas scam centers targeting Americans. Patel did not name the raided site, identify the local agencies involved, or provide a breakdown of the seized equipment.

He also did not disclose charges, suspects’ names, or findings from the devices. Across the broader campaign, criminal groups use romance scams, false investment offers, and other online fraud to steal money.

Operators contact targets through social media, calls, text messages, and Telegram. They build trust, then encourage victims to move funds into fake investment platforms, often linked to cryptocurrency. Those platforms can show false profits to make the offer appear safe. When victims try to withdraw money, scammers block access or demand extra fees.

This connects an online conversation to a system of fake websites, payment accounts, and money laundering. These methods describe the wider scam model, not confirmed findings from the Ghana raid. The seized devices could help investigators connect online accounts, conversations, payment records, and people running the center.

However, Patel’s announcement does not specify what evidence was recovered. The update released no malware names, wallet addresses, domains, or other technical indicators.

Patel reported roughly $17 billion seized across Operation Blackout, hundreds of alleged scammers arrested, and thousands of trafficked workers freed. He also said more than 10,000 Americans had been warned before losing money, preventing an estimated $670 million in losses. These are campaign totals, not Ghana’s figures.

Cyber Security News previously covered the campaign’s website seizures and efforts to warn victims. The Ghana action adds another location to that cross-border effort. For victims, preserving messages, payment details, wallet addresses, and transaction records can support reporting. Stop further payments, contact the financial provider, and report suspected fraud through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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