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The AFP was recently part of an FBI-led operation targeting alleged Nigerian scammers, with two suspects linked to the 2023 suicide of a 16-year-old in NSW.
The Australian Federal Police has been able to reveal its role in an international cyber crime operation that led to the arrest of 22 alleged Nigerian scammers involved in a widespread sextortion campaign that targeted teenagers around the world, including in Australia.
The investigation, Operation Artemis, was led by the US FBI and also included the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Two AFP investigators were deployed to Nigeria during the investigation, where they linked digital evidence to the suspects, identified victims and perpetrators, and traced online activity.
The AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) also provided data analysis of evidence seized in the operation.
The scam campaign coerced victims into sharing explicit images of themselves before extorting them via threats to publish the photos online. Two of those arrested were linked to the 2023 suicide of a 16-year-old in NSW, while since 2021, the suicides of more than 20 American teens have been linked to the operation.
A total of 1,554 instances of sextortion targeting children were reported to the ACCCE in the 2023–24 financial year; however, this figure dropped following the Nigerian arrests, which took place in 2023.
“This global operation sends a clear message to those who exploit children online. Law enforcement is united and determined to find you – no matter where you hide,” AFP Acting Commander Ben Moses, who leads the ACCCE, said in a 2 June statement.
“These crimes are calculated and devastating, often pushing vulnerable young people into extreme distress. Thanks to the coordinated action of our partners, we achieved meaningful results, including an immediate and significant reduction in sextortion reports across Australia.”
Members of the public who have information about people involved in online child sexual exploitation are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you, or someone you know, is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what online child sexual exploitation is and how to report it, visit the ACCCE website.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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