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The suspects are accused of running online romance and sextortion scams that targeted over 1,400 victims and caused losses of nearly USD 2.8 million
Interpol, which supports police cooperation in 196 countries, said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to tackle cyber-enabled crimes. (AFP file photo)
A major cybercrime crackdown led by Interpol has resulted in the arrest of 260 people across 14 African countries, the organisation said on Friday.
The suspects are accused of running online romance and sextortion scams that targeted over 1,400 victims and caused losses of nearly USD 2.8 million.
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The operation, which took place in July and August, focused on schemes where scammers built fake romantic relationships online to trick victims into sending money or to later blackmail them using explicit images or videos.
“Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams,” said Cyril Gout, acting executive director of police services at Interpol. “The growth of online platforms has opened new opportunities for criminal networks to exploit victims, causing both financial loss and psychological harm.”
In Ghana, police arrested 68 suspects linked to these scams. According to Interpol, they used fake identities to lure victims, tricked them into paying bogus shipment fees, and secretly recorded intimate videos to use for blackmail.
In Senegal, 22 people were arrested for posing as celebrities on social media and dating platforms. Authorities say they scammed more than 100 people out of around USD 34,000.
Ivory Coast police detained 24 suspects accused of using fake online profiles to obtain intimate photos and videos from victims, which were then used for extortion.
Interpol, which supports police cooperation in 196 countries, said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to tackle cyber-enabled crimes, especially those targeting individuals through social media and dating apps.
Headquartered in Lyon, France, Interpol is the world’s largest international police network. Its work spans areas such as terrorism, financial crime, child abuse, cybercrime, and organised criminal activity. In recent years, the organisation has faced increasing challenges, particularly from the rise in online scams and divisions among some member countries.
(With inputs from AP)
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