Interpol has announced the results of a sweeping cybercrime operation across 14 African nations, leading to the arrest of 260 individuals behind romance scams and sextortion schemes. The crackdown, conducted in July and August, exposed the alarming scale of digital exploitation sweeping the continent. Victims—more than 1,400 in total—were deceived, blackmailed, and financially drained, with total losses nearing $2.8 million.
The operation highlighted country-specific cases: Ghanaian police arrested 68 suspects running fake shipping fee scams and blackmail rackets; Senegalese authorities detained 22 individuals posing as celebrities to defraud over 100 victims; and Ivory Coast police apprehended 24 suspects accused of using fake online identities to obtain intimate images for coercion. These arrests reveal a common criminal playbook—deception, emotional manipulation, and coercive sextortion—designed to trap victims in long-term cycles of exploitation.
Interpol stressed that digital crimes like romance scams are increasing sharply across Africa, fueled by borderless online platforms and weak national enforcement capabilities. The operation underscores both the emotional and financial devastation inflicted on victims and the critical role of international cooperation in fighting transnational cybercrime. This case demonstrates how intelligence sharing and coordinated action are indispensable tools against an escalating wave of digital fraud and blackmail schemes.
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