260 suspected scammers arrested in pan-African cybercrime operation, says INTERPOL

Authorities in 14 African countries have reportedly arrested 260 suspects and seized 1,235 electronic devices in a coordinated international operation against cyber-enabled crime.

According to INTERPOL, the crackdown targeted transnational criminal networks exploiting digital platforms, particularly social media, to manipulate victims and defraud them financially.

Specifically, the operation focused on romance scams, where perpetrators build online relationships to extract money from victims, and sextortion, in which victims are blackmailed with explicit images or videos.

During Operation Contender 3.0 (28 July – 11 August 2025), police identified IP addresses, digital infrastructures, domains and social media profiles linked to members of the scam syndicates.

These leads and the subsequent arrests also resulted in the seizure of USB drives, SIM cards and forged documents, as well as the take down of 81 cybercrime infrastructures across Africa.

Investigators identified 1,463 victims linked to the scams, estimating their losses at nearly USD 2.8 million.

The transnational operation was strengthened by collaboration with private sector partners Group-IB and Trend Micro, resulting in enhanced data sharing and operational capabilities.

The exchange of INTERPOL cyber activity reports facilitated swift enforcement actions from participating countries, underscoring the value of international cooperation in combating cybercrime.

Cyril Gout, Acting Executive Director of Police Services at INTERPOL, said:

“Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams. The growth of online platforms has opened new opportunities for criminal networks to exploit victims, causing both financial loss and psychological harm. By working closely with our member countries and private sector partners, we remain committed to disrupting and dismantling the groups that prey on vulnerable individuals online.”

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