Interpol has apprehended 260 individuals across 14 African nations in a synchronized operation aimed at combating online romance and extortion scams, which have defrauded more than 1,400 victims of nearly $2.8 million.
According to DW Africa, this crackdown underscores the escalating threat posed by digital fraud schemes that take advantage of vulnerable individuals globally.
In Ghana, authorities detained 68 suspects, confiscated 835 devices, and identified 108 victims. Investigations uncovered financial losses amounting to USD 450,000, of which USD 70,000 has been recovered.
Romance-related scams involved the use of fake profiles, stolen images, and fabricated identities, while the perpetrators employed fictitious courier and customs fees to extract funds. In cases of sextortion, fraudsters secretly recorded explicit video chats to blackmail victims.
In Senegal, law enforcement arrested 22 suspects operating a network that impersonated celebrities on social media and dating platforms, deceiving 120 individuals out of approximately USD 34,000. Authorities also seized 65 devices, counterfeit IDs, and documentation of money transfers.
In Côte d’Ivoire, security forces dismantled a cybercrime organization that created false online identities to deceive victims into sharing intimate images, which were subsequently used for blackmail. Police arrested 24 suspects, seized 29 devices, and identified 809 victims.
In Angola, eight suspects were arrested after targeting 28 local and international victims via social media, utilizing fraudulent documents to establish false identities for financial transactions.
Interpol highlighted that these arrests demonstrate the worldwide scope of online romance scams, which exploit trust and emotions.
The agency reiterated its dedication to enhancing international collaboration and intelligence sharing to dismantle the criminal networks responsible for such schemes.