Africa’s biggest cybercrime sting: 260 suspects arrested in sextortion and romance scam crackdown🚔🌍

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Interpol has arrested more than 260 people across 14 African countries in a massive crackdown on cybercrime networks. The sting targeted criminal groups exploiting social platforms to lure victims into romance scams and extortion schemes involving intimate images.

An unprecedented operation on the continent 🌍

Between July and August 2025, Interpol coordinated the Joint African Operation Against Cybercrime, backed by funding from the UK government. Police forces from 14 countries took part, including Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Kenya, Angola, and South Africa.

After two months, authorities arrested 260 suspects, identified more than 1,400 victims, and estimated financial losses at nearly $2.8 million.

How the scams worked 🎭

Criminals operated mainly on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and dating sites, using fake profiles with stolen photos. They posed as romantic partners, celebrities, or business professionals to build trust with their targets.

Once contact was established, two main tactics emerged:

• Romance scams: Scammers invented emergencies such as medical bills, customs issues, or accidents, pressuring victims to send money.
• Sextortion: After intimate exchanges — sometimes via video calls — criminals recorded compromising images and used them to blackmail victims.

“It doesn’t take long to develop a connection with someone,” said Neal Jetton, Interpol’s director of cybercrime. “But that trust can be broken almost instantly.”

Arrests country by country 📊

Key results from the operation include:

• Ghana: 68 arrests, 835 devices seized, 108 victims identified. Financial losses reached $450,000, with $70,000 recovered.
• Senegal: 22 suspects arrested. Police uncovered a network impersonating celebrities. Around 120 victims lost $34,000.
• Côte d’Ivoire: 24 arrests, 809 victims identified — the highest number of the operation. 29 devices seized.
• Angola: 8 suspects arrested, 28 victims identified. Scammers used forged documents to create fake identities.

Other participating countries included Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Benin, Burkina Faso, and The Gambia. In total, 81 criminal networks were dismantled.

Victims of all ages 👥

Interpol stressed that victims spanned all age groups, though older people were particularly at risk. Many lived in isolation and turned to online platforms for companionship, making them more vulnerable to manipulation.

In several cases, the damage was not just financial. Victims suffered severe psychological stress after being threatened with the release of intimate photos and videos.

Investigators also seized a trove of evidence — including USB drives, SIM cards, forged documents, phones, laptops, and money transfer records — which will help trace networks and uncover accomplices.

Cybercrime on the rise ⚠️

According to Cyril Gout, acting executive director of Interpol’s police services, the growth of online platforms has created fertile ground for cybercriminals. “Cybercrime units in Africa are reporting a sharp increase in digital crimes such as sextortion and romance scams,” he said.

Interpol warns that these crimes cause both financial loss and lasting psychological harm. Online fraud has now become the top cyber threat in Africa.

Why global cooperation matters 🤝

The operation underscored the need for international collaboration. Investigations involved tracing IP addresses, monitoring online infrastructure, and analyzing domains and social media profiles.

Interpol says it plans to strengthen the capacity of African police forces by providing advanced detection tools and tailored training to better track transnational crime networks.

A fight far from over 🔍

Despite the 260 arrests, Interpol admits that online scams remain difficult to stamp out. Millions of users still click on phishing links or interact with fake profiles every day.

Authorities are urging internet users to be extra cautious, warning that online requests for money — especially from people recently met — should always be treated with suspicion.

👉🏾 Do you think coordinated operations like this can really curb the rise of cyber scams in Africa? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Sources : Agence Ecofin, BBC, Afrique IT News