In a landmark international effort, the FBI has launched Operation Artemis, a comprehensive initiative aimed at dismantling financially motivated sextortion schemes originating from Nigeria. This operation is a direct response to a troubling surge in suicides among American teenagers linked to online exploitation.
Operation Artemis: A Global Response to Sextortion
Coordinated with law enforcement agencies in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria, the FBI’s operation led to the arrest of 22 Nigerian individuals involved in sextortion activities. Approximately half of these arrests are connected to cases where victims tragically took their own lives. The perpetrators typically engaged victims through social media platforms, posing as peers or romantic interests, and coerced them into sharing explicit images. Subsequently, they threatened to release these images unless immediate payments were made, often demanding funds via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the operation’s significance, stating, “This operation exemplifies the FBI’s never-ending mission to protect our most vulnerable, and to pursue the heinous criminals harming our children — no matter where they hide.”
Alarming Statistics and Rising Threat
The FBI has reported a 30% increase in sextortion-related tips received by its National Threat Operations Center from October 2024 to March 2025 compared to the previous year. In 2024, over 54,000 victims were reported, up from 34,000 in 2023, with nearly $65 million in financial losses over the past two years. The majority of victims are young males aged 14-17, with more than 20 minor victims having died by suicide as a result of these schemes.
International Collaboration and Legal Actions
The operation’s success underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrimes. Notably, Nigerian authorities have been instrumental in facilitating the extradition of suspects. For instance, Nigerian national Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal was extradited to the U.S. to face charges related to the suicide of a South Carolina teenager, Gavin Guffey, who fell victim to a sextortion scheme.
Additionally, two Nigerian men, Samuel Ogoshi and Samson Ogoshi, were extradited to the U.S. and pleaded guilty to conspiring to sexually exploit teenage boys in Michigan and across the U.S.
Call to Action for Parents and Guardians
The FBI urges parents and guardians to engage in open discussions with their children about online safety and the dangers of sextortion. Victims or those aware of such crimes are encouraged to report them to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov. For immediate assistance, individuals can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Additionally, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offers the “Take It Down” service to help remove explicit images of minors from the internet.
Operation Artemis represents a significant step in the fight against online exploitation, highlighting the critical need for continued vigilance and international collaboration to protect vulnerable individuals from such predatory schemes.
FBI Squad Picture on Wikimedia by Shinsuke Ikegame
