The global policing body Interpol said it arrested 651 suspects and recovered more than US$4.3 million during a sweeping cybercrime operation conducted across 16 African countries between Dec. 8, 2025 and Jan. 30, 2026.
Dubbed Operation Red Card 2.0, the coordinated crackdown targeted criminal networks involved in high-yield investment scams, mobile money fraud and fraudulent loan schemes. Authorities identified 1,247 victims, with estimated financial losses exceeding US$45 million.
“These organized cybercriminal syndicates inflict devastating financial and psychological harm on individuals, businesses and entire communities with their false promises,” said Neal Jetton, Interpol’s director of cybercrime. “Operation Red Card underscores the importance of collaboration in the fight against transnational cybercrime.”
The operation mobilized law enforcement agencies across West, East and Southern Africa, focusing on dismantling the infrastructure used to perpetrate digital financial crimes.
In Nigeria, authorities shut down more than 1,000 fraudulent bank and mobile money accounts and confiscated a residential property allegedly used as an operational base for cybercriminal activity.
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In Kenya, police arrested 27 individuals suspected of running fraudulent investment schemes promoted via messaging platforms and social media networks. Investigators said perpetrators lured victims with promises of high returns and provided falsified account statements to maintain the illusion of legitimacy.
In Côte d’Ivoire, authorities arrested 58 suspects and seized 240 mobile phones, 25 laptops and more than 300 SIM cards in a targeted operation against mobile loan fraud schemes that disproportionately affected vulnerable populations.
Interpol said the latest crackdown built on an earlier phase of Operation Red Card carried out between November 2024 and February 2025. During that phase, authorities arrested approximately 300 cybercriminals and seized nearly 2,000 electronic devices in seven African countries. Thousands of victims were identified in cases involving mobile banking scams, fraudulent investment platforms and messaging-based fraud.
The operation comes amid rising cybercrime across the African continent, fueled by rapid digital adoption and expanding mobile money ecosystems. Interpol’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report indicates that cyber-related offenses now account for more than 30 percent of reported crimes in parts of West and East Africa.
While digital transformation has improved financial inclusion and access to online services, it has also exposed gaps in cybersecurity infrastructure, legal frameworks and enforcement capacity. Many countries face shortages of specialized training, forensic tools and cross-border coordination mechanisms necessary to track and prosecute cybercriminal networks.
Interpol estimates that cybercrime has cost African economies at least $3 billion between 2019 and 2025, based on compiled international reports. Analysts caution that the true economic impact is likely higher when factoring in indirect costs such as productivity losses, reputational damage to businesses and system recovery expenses.
Officials said Operation Red Card 2.0 highlights the growing importance of intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement efforts across borders, as cybercriminal groups increasingly operate transnationally. By pooling resources and expertise, participating countries aimed to disrupt criminal ecosystems rather than merely targeting isolated actors.
Interpol pledged to continue strengthening partnerships with African law enforcement agencies and private-sector stakeholders to improve detection, prevention and response capabilities.
As digital connectivity continues to expand across the continent, authorities say sustained investment in cybersecurity, regulatory reform and public awareness campaigns will be critical to curbing financial fraud and protecting citizens in an increasingly interconnected economy.
