The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested more than 130 individuals in Ghana as part of an operation targeting scam activities that have caused nearly $10 million in losses to American citizens. The arrests were announced by FBI Director Kash Patel on October 8, 2026, during a post on X. The operation, referred to as “Operation Blackout,” has identified a network involved in fraudulent activities, primarily targeting U.S. Citizens through various scams.
The FBI has recovered significant financial losses linked to the operation, with the total amount of losses estimated at nearly $10 million. The operation has also identified 89 victims, primarily from the United States. The arrests were made following a raid on a compound in Ghana, where law enforcement officials uncovered evidence of the scam network. The operation is part of a broader effort by the FBI to combat international fraud and protect American citizens from financial exploitation.
This is not the first time the FBI has targeted scam operations in Ghana. Previous operations have focused on similar networks, often involving romance scams and other forms of financial fraud. The current operation highlights the ongoing challenge of international cybercrime and the need for cross-border cooperation to address such crimes. The FBI has emphasized the importance of collaboration with local authorities in Ghana to dismantle these networks and bring perpetrators to justice. The operation underscores the increasing sophistication of scam networks and the FBI’s commitment to addressing them through coordinated efforts.
