Multimillion dollar cyberscam operations dismantled in INTERPOL-led African sweep
More than 1,000 people were arrested across the continent between September and October.
Law enforcement in 19 African countries has arrested 1,006 suspects linked to cybercrime activities, INTERPOL announced on Nov. 26.
Operation Serengeti, conducted from Sept. 2 to Oct. 31, targeted criminals involved in ransomware, business email compromise, digital extortion, and online scams. These activities have affected at least 35,224 victims, with related cases leading to nearly USD 193 million in financial losses worldwide.
“From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is a serious concern,” said Valdecy Urquiza, Assistant Director of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate.
Among the highlights of the operation, Kenyan officers uncovered an online credit card fraud case linked to USD 8.6 million in losses. Criminals used fraudulent scripts to bypass the banking system’s security protocols, then funnelled stolen funds through SWIFT to companies in the UAE, Nigeria, and China. These funds were further laundered via digital asset institutions offering financial services in multiple jurisdictions.
In Senegal, authorities arrested eight people — including five Chinese nationals — in connection with a USD 6 million online Ponzi scheme affecting 1,811 victims. A raid on an apartment yielded over 900 SIM cards, USD 11,000 in cash, mobile phones, laptops, and copies of victims’ ID cards.
In Nigeria, police apprehended a man accused of running online investment scams that generated over USD 300,000 by luring victims through messaging platforms with false cryptocurrency promises.
Cameroonian authorities dismantled a group suspected of trafficking victims from seven countries to operate a multi-level marketing scam. Victims were enticed with promises of employment or training but were instead held captive and coerced into recruiting others. Initial estimates indicate the group profited by at least USD 150,000.
Angolan investigators broke up an international criminal group running a virtual casino in Luanda. Targeting Brazilian and Nigerian gamblers, the group defrauded hundreds via its online platform, offering a share of winnings to members who recruited new subscribers. Authorities made 150 arrests and seized 200 computers and over 100 mobile phones.
Other participating countries included Algeria, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.