651 SUSPECTS ARRESTED, AS INTERPOL UNCOVERS $45M CYBER VSCAM NETWORK IN NIGERIA,15 AFRICAN COUNTRIES
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BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR
Interpol says police in 16 African countries caught 651 people and got back more than $4.3 million during a special operation against online fraud.
The operation, called Operation Red Card 2.0, took place from December 8, 2025, to January 30, 2026. It focused on scams like high–yield investment schemes, fake mobile money fraud, and false loan applications.
According to Interpol, investigations during the eight-week exercise uncovered scams linked to more than $45 million in financial losses and identified 1,247 victims — mostly from Africa.
It said operatives seized 2,341 devices and 1,442 malicious IP addresses, with domains and servers linked to the syndicates dismantled.
The organisation noted that it supported participating countries with intelligence sharing, real-time information exchange and training on digital forensic tools.
Neal Jetton, director of Interpol’s cybercrime directorate, said organised cybercriminal networks continue to cause significant financial and psychological harm.
“Operation Red Card highlights the importance of collaboration when combatting transnational cybercrime. I encourage all victims of cybercrime to reach out to law enforcement for help,” he said.
In Nigeria, Interpol said police dismantled a high-yield investment fraud syndicate that recruited young individuals to execute phishing, identity theft, social engineering and fake digital asset investment schemes.
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According to the organisation, investigators took down more than 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts linked to the network and uncovered a residential building constructed by the alleged ringleader as an operational hub for the crimes.
It said Nigerian authorities arrested six members of a cybercrime syndicate, accused of infiltrating the internal platform of a major telecommunications provider using compromised staff login credentials, in a separate operation.
Interpol said the suspects allegedly siphoned large volumes of airtime and data for illegal resale before the scheme was disrupted.
MAJOR ARRESTS IN KENYA, CÔTE D’IVOIRE
In Kenya, authorities arrested 27 suspects linked to fraud schemes that used messaging apps, social media platforms and fabricated testimonials to lure victims into fake investments in reputable global corporations.
According to Interpol, victims were persuaded to invest as little as $50 with promises of high returns and were shown falsified dashboards and account statements. However, withdrawal requests were allegedly blocked.
In Côte d’Ivoire, police caught 58 people and took 240 mobile phones, 25 laptops, and over 300 SIM cards during a special operation to stop mobile loan fraud.
The officials explained that the scams tricked people who are easy to target by using fake apps.
These apps promised fast, no-collateral loans but then charged secret fees, used harsh ways to collect money, and collected personal information.
Interpol said the operation was conducted under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC), funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
It added that the Global Action on Cybercrime Enhanced (GLACY-e) project — a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe — provided operational support.
It added that the participating countries include Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
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