In a sweeping international effort, Interpol has spearheaded a major operation targeting cybercriminals across 14 African nations, resulting in the arrest of 260 suspects. The initiative, funded by the UK, focused on dismantling criminal networks exploiting social media and digital platforms to perpetrate romance scams and sextortion schemes. These scams involve blackmailing victims using explicit imagery, causing both financial and psychological harm. Over 1,400 victims were identified across countries including Ghana, Kenya, and Angola, with estimated losses nearing $2.8 million. The operation, conducted between July and August, led to the seizure of critical digital evidence, including USB drives, Sim cards, and forged documents, as well as the takedown of 81 cybercrime infrastructures. Cyril Gout, Interpol’s acting executive director of police services, highlighted the alarming rise in digital-enabled crimes across Africa, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance. In Ghana alone, 68 suspects were arrested, and $70,000 was recovered from an estimated $450,000 in losses. Similar successes were reported in Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Angola, where scammers used fake profiles and fraudulent documents to deceive victims. The operation, part of the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime project, underscores the global police network’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals online.
Huge sting operation across Africa sees 260 arrested for sextortion and romance scams
