Interpol-led pan-African sting nets 260 arrests in sextortion and romance scams
Operation across 14 countries identifies 1,400 victims and nearly $2.8 million in losses; 81 cybercrime infrastructures dismantled
A coordinated international sting led by Interpol and funded by the United Kingdom has resulted in the arrest of about 260 suspected cyber scammers across 14 African countries, targeting sextortion and romance scams. The operation, conducted between July and August, identified more than 1,400 victims and Interpol said losses from the schemes totaled nearly $2.8 million.
Authorities said 81 cybercrime infrastructures were dismantled across the continent, with investigators tracing IP addresses, digital infrastructure, domains and social media profiles linked to the syndicates. In parallel, law enforcement seized USB drives, SIM cards and forged documents, and disrupted networks that prosecutors described as increasingly sophisticated given the growth of online platforms.
"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.""
In Ghana, about 68 suspects were arrested; authorities seized 835 devices and identified 108 victims. Investigators recovered $70,000 from the estimated $450,000 in financial losses. The scammers used a range of schemes, including fake courier and customs shipment fees, and secretly recorded intimate videos during explicit chats to blackmail victims.
In Senegal, police arrested 22 suspects and uncovered a network that impersonated celebrities and used emotional manipulation on social media and dating platforms to defraud about 120 victims of roughly $34,000. Authorities seized 65 devices, forged identification documents and money transfer records.
In Ivory Coast, police arrested 24 suspects, seized 29 devices and identified 809 victims. Scammers used fake profiles online to blackmail victims, demanding payments to prevent public exposure.
Eight suspects were arrested in Angola where authorities identified 28 domestic and international victims, primarily targeted via social media. Scammers used fraudulent documents to create fake identities, facilitating financial transactions and concealing their real identities while engaging victims.
The operation also involved Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia.
Cybercrime investigators have noted a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes across Africa as online platforms expand reach and interactions. Interpol said the crackdown underscores international cooperation to disrupt and dismantle networks that prey on vulnerable individuals online.
Interpol described the operation as a strategic disruption of transnational criminal groups and stressed its ongoing commitment to counter online exploitation. The agency said similar actions would continue to disrupt actors that use social media and digital services to target victims for financial gain and coercion.