Some 260 suspected cyber scammers have been arrested in a sting operation carried out across 14 African countries.
The operation, coordinated by Interpol and funded by the UK, targeted criminal networks using social media and digital platforms to extract money from victims in romance scams, and in so-called 'sextortion,' where victims are blackmailed using explicit imagery.
More than 1,400 victims across Ghana, Kenya, Angola, and elsewhere were identified, with Interpol estimating their losses at nearly $2.8 million (£2.1 million).
The global police network stated it is committed to 'disrupting and dismantling the groups that prey on vulnerable individuals online.'
During the crackdown, which took place between July and August, authorities identified IP addresses and digital infrastructure linked to these scam syndicates. The operation led to the seizure of USB drives, SIM cards, and forged documents, in addition to dismantling 81 cybercrime infrastructures across Africa.
'Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams,' said Cyril Gout, the acting executive director of police services at Interpol. He noted that the growth of online platforms has provided new opportunities for criminal networks to exploit victims, leading to financial loss and psychological harm.
In Ghana alone, 68 suspects were arrested, resulting in the identification of 108 victims and the recovery of $70,000 from an estimated $450,000 in financial losses. Scammers in Ghana utilized various schemes, including fake courier and customs fees, and blackmailed individuals using secretly recorded intimate videos.
In Senegal, 22 suspects were apprehended, with a network impersonating celebrities to defraud 120 victims of approximately $34,000. Additionally, in Ivory Coast, 24 suspects were arrested, having used fake profiles online to extort money from victims under threat of exposure.
Other countries involved in the operation included Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia, highlighting the regional collaboration in the fight against cybercrime.
