Interpol has announced the arrest of over 1,000 individuals suspected of cybercrimes across 19 African countries between September and October during Operation Serengeti.
The operation, led by Interpol and Afripol, focused on cybercriminal activities such as ransomware attacks, digital extortion, online scams, and phishing schemes.
The crackdown uncovered more than 35,000 victims and linked the crimes to approximately $193 million in global financial losses, according to Interpol.
The 19 African countries in the operation were Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
“From multilevel marketing scams to large-scale credit card fraud, the growing volume and sophistication of cybercrime is a serious concern,” said Valdecy Urquiza, Interpol’s secretary general.
Key arrests included nearly two dozen individuals in Kenya connected to $8.6 million in credit card fraud. In Senegal, authorities detained eight suspects, including five Chinese nationals, for running an online Ponzi scheme that defrauded over 1,800 victims.
In Nigeria, a man accused of orchestrating cryptocurrency investment scams with profits exceeding $300,000 was apprehended.
In Cameroon, authorities disrupted a human trafficking ring that exploited victims from seven countries. Trafficking victims were lured with false job offers, held captive, and forced to participate in multilevel marketing scams under the promise of freedom.
A U.N. report highlights that many involved in scam operations are trafficking victims subjected to physical and psychological abuse. Earlier in November, Interpol identified more cases in Africa where victims were forced to work in pyramid schemes under abusive conditions.
Cybercrime remains a global challenge, with estimated financial losses ranging from hundreds of millions to trillions of dollars. The World Cybercrime Index identifies Russia, Ukraine, China, the United States, and Nigeria as the primary origins of cybercrime. Some crimes, such as AI-driven impersonation schemes and romance scams, have even resulted in fatalities.
“Operation Serengeti demonstrates the strength of international collaboration,” Urquiza said. “This is only the beginning, and we remain committed to dismantling these criminal networks worldwide.”