NAIROBI, Kenya — An INTERPOL-led operation targeting cybercrime networks that prey on victims through social media and dating platforms has netted 260 suspects and seized more than 1,200 electronic devices across 14 African countries, including Kenya.
The crackdown, codenamed Contender 3.0, was conducted between July 28 and August 1 in countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, South Africa, and Zambia.
It focused on romance scams — in which fraudsters build fake online relationships to siphon money — and sextortion, where victims are blackmailed with intimate images or videos.
According to INTERPOL, police traced IP addresses, social media accounts, and digital infrastructures linked to the networks, leading to the arrests and the takedown of 81 cybercrime platforms.
Investigators identified 1,463 victims, with losses estimated at nearly $2.8 million (Sh362 million).
“Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in sextortion and romance scams. These crimes cause devastating financial and psychological harm,” said Cyril Gout, INTERPOL’s Acting Executive Director of Police Services. “Working with our member countries and private sector partners, we remain committed to dismantling the groups that exploit vulnerable individuals online.”
Country-by-country arrests
Ghana recorded the largest haul, with 68 suspects arrested and 835 devices seized.
Authorities identified 108 victims who lost $450,000 (Sh58 million), though investigators managed to recover $70,000 (Sh9 million).
In Senegal, police uncovered a syndicate that impersonated celebrities on social media to dupe 120 victims.
Twenty-two suspects were arrested, and records showed victims had lost around $34,000 (Sh4.4 million).
Côte d’Ivoire police dismantled a cybercrime ring accused of manipulating victims into sharing intimate photos before blackmailing them.
The operation led to 24 arrests, the seizure of 29 devices, and the identification of 809 victims — the largest number of victims in a single country.
In Angola, eight suspects were arrested for using forged documents and fake online identities to trick victims, while police in South Africa, Nigeria, and other participating countries made similar arrests.
Wider cybercrime concerns
The operation follows INTERPOL’s June 2025 Cyber Threat Assessment Report, which revealed that two-thirds of African nations were recording medium to high levels of cybercrime.
Phishing scams remain the most reported cyber threat, while ransomware, business email compromise, and sextortion continue to rise.
The agency partnered with cybersecurity firms Group-IB and Trend Micro to analyze digital footprints and share intelligence, enabling swift arrests and seizures.
INTERPOL warned that with Africa’s rapid adoption of digital platforms, romance scams and sextortion remain major threats, often leaving victims not only financially ruined but also psychologically scarred.
