An African cybercrime crackdown has arrested 260 suspected online scammers across 14 countries. Interpol coordinated the operation with funding from the UK. Criminal networks used social media and digital platforms to run romance scams and “sextortion” schemes. In these crimes, scammers lure victims into fake relationships and later blackmail them with explicit imagery.
Investigators identified more than 1,400 victims in Ghana, Kenya, Angola, and other nations. These victims lost nearly $2.8 million combined. Neal Jetton, Interpol’s director of cybercrime, described how quickly scammers build—and break—trust. “It doesn’t take long before you develop a connection with somebody… and very quickly this trust is shattered,” he told the BBC. He added that while people of all ages fall victim, “typically, a lot of these scams do affect older people.”
The teams ran the operation from July to August. They focused on dismantling organized syndicates behind the fraud. Officers traced IP addresses, domains, social media profiles, and digital infrastructure linked to the criminals. As a result, they seized USB drives, SIM cards, and forged documents. They also shut down 81 cybercrime groups across the continent. Interpol reaffirmed its commitment to “disrupting and dismantling the groups that prey on vulnerable individuals online.”
Ghana recorded the highest number of arrests—68 suspects. Authorities confiscated 835 electronic devices and identified 108 victims. Investigators recovered $70,000 of the estimated $450,000 stolen. Scammers used fake courier and customs fees to trick victims into sending money. In other cases, they secretly recorded intimate video chats and used the footage to blackmail people.
In Senegal, police arrested 22 suspects who impersonated celebrities on dating apps and social media. The group used emotional manipulation to defraud 120 victims of about $34,000. Officers seized 65 devices, fake IDs, and money transfer records during the raids.
Meanwhile, Ivorian police arrested 24 suspects and confiscated 29 devices. Shockingly, they identified 809 victims tied to one sextortion ring. The criminals created fake online profiles to pressure individuals into sharing explicit content. Then, they demanded payments to prevent public exposure.
Angolan authorities arrested eight suspects and identified 28 victims—both local and international. The scammers used fraudulent documents to build fake identities. This helped them hide their real names while engaging targets online.
Other countries that joined the African cybercrime crackdown included Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia. Cyril Gout, Interpol’s acting executive director of police services, stressed the growing threat. “Cybercrime units across Africa report a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes like sextortion and romance scams,” he said. “Online platforms give criminal networks new ways to exploit victims, causing both financial loss and psychological harm.”
Jetton noted that online scams top the cyber threat list in nearly every African country Interpol consults. “It is very difficult to combat these crimes—millions of people click on phishing emails every day,” he explained.
This African cybercrime crackdown shows the power of international cooperation. Law enforcement teams shared intelligence and acted quickly to disrupt sophisticated networks. However, experts say public awareness and stronger digital literacy remain essential to stop future victimization.
As internet access expands across Africa, defenses must grow too. With continued collaboration and investment in cyber units, the continent can better shield its citizens from the emotional and financial damage of online scams.
READ: Interpol’s Crackdown on African Cybercrime Nets 260 Arrests