Ghana Scam-Centre Crackdown: FBI Arrests Over 130 People

WASHINGTON — More than 130 people have been arrested or detained in Ghana in an FBI-led crackdown on an alleged international scam-centre network accused of defrauding American citizens.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrests on Thursday through his X platform as he provided an update on “Operation Blackout”, a global initiative aimed at dismantling scam-centre operations.

Patel said investigators had so far linked the latest Ghana operation to nearly $10 million in losses suffered by 89 victims. More than 300 devices were also recovered during the operation.

He said those arrested or detained included alleged scammers as well as people identified as victims, who are expected to be repatriated to their home countries.

“Another takedown this week out of Ghana,” Patel said, stressing that the investigation was still underway.

The FBI director said the alleged scam compounds were involved in operations targeting people in the United States, describing the Ghana action as part of the bureau’s broader international campaign against scam networks.

Providing figures for Operation Blackout as a whole, Patel said about $17 billion had been seized since the campaign was launched.

He further disclosed that hundreds of alleged scammers had been arrested, while thousands of trafficked workers had been rescued through the operation.

Patel said the campaign had also helped protect potential victims, with more than 10,000 Americans warned before they lost money. He estimated that the warnings helped prevent approximately $670 million in losses.

He said the investigation into the Ghana operation remained active and that additional information would be released as it becomes available.

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