Interpol has announced the arrest of 306 cybercrime suspects in a large-scale crackdown spanning seven African countries, with Nigeria recording the highest number of detentions.
The arrests, made between November 2024 and February 2025 as part of Operation Red Card, targeted online fraud schemes, including mobile banking scams, investment fraud, and phishing attacks.
According to Interpol, the operation exposed over 1,500 victims of cyber-enabled scams. Authorities seized 1,842 devices linked to these criminal activities, highlighting the growing threat of digital fraud across the continent.
The seven countries involved—Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia—shared intelligence through Interpol to dismantle cross-border cybercrime networks.
Nigeria recorded the highest number of arrests, with 130 suspects in custody, including 113 foreign nationals accused of orchestrating various online fraud schemes.
Investigations revealed that criminal groups recruited and trained young Nigerians, equipping them with devices and online profiles to carry out scams.
Further inquiries uncovered that some individuals working in these scam centers were victims of human trafficking, forced into cybercriminal activities.
Nigerian authorities, in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seized 26 vehicles, 16 houses, 39 plots of land, and 685 devices linked to cyber fraud operations.
In Rwanda, authorities arrested 45 individuals involved in social engineering scams, including impersonating telecom employees to gain unauthorized access to victims’ banking details.
The operation led to the recovery of $103,043 and the seizure of 292 devices. Criminals also used deceptive tactics, such as pretending to be injured relatives, to solicit funds from victims.
South African authorities arrested 40 suspects connected to a SIM box fraud scheme, which converted international calls into local ones to evade monitoring.
Investigators confiscated over 1,000 SIM cards, along with 53 desktops and computer towers, used to execute phishing attacks through fraudulent SMS messages.
In Zambia, law enforcement apprehended 14 members of a cybercrime syndicate specializing in hacking victims’ phones via malicious links. The hackers exploited messaging platforms to spread malware, gaining access to financial accounts and personal data.
Operation Red Card is part of Interpol’s broader strategy to combat transnational cybercrime, focusing on disrupting criminal networks that exploit digital platforms.
The rising wave of cyber-enabled fraud, particularly in Nigeria—where “yahoo yahoo” scams have surged—has prompted intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies. The arrests highlight the growing complexity of cybercrime operations, involving both local and foreign actors.
With digital fraud evolving rapidly, authorities across Africa are ramping up their collaboration with international partners to safeguard individuals and businesses from financial exploitation.
