• Police arrests 651 suspects in African cybercrime crackdown February 19, 2026 06:24 AM 0 African law enforcement agencies arrested 651 suspects and recovered over $4.3 million in a joint operation targeting investment fraud, mobile money scams, and fake loan applications. • As INTERPOL revealed on Wednesday, Operation Red Card 2.0 identified 1,247 victims between December 8 and January 30 while targeting cybercrime operations linked to over $45 million in financial losses. • Authorities across 16 countries also seized 2,341 devices and took down 1,442 malicious websites, domains, and servers during this joint action coordinated by theAfrican Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC). • In Nigeria, police officers dismantled an investment fraud ring that was recruiting young people to run phishing, identity theft, and fake investment schemes, taking down over 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts in the process. • They also arrested six members of a Nigerian cybercrime gang that used stolen employee credentials to breach a major telecom provider. • Kenyan investigators also apprehended 27 suspects while investigating fraud networks that used social media and messaging platforms to lure victims into fake investment schemes.

Article Summaries:

  • INTERPOL’s Operation Red Card 2.0, a continent‑wide cybercrime crackdown, led to the arrest of 651 suspects and the recovery of more than $4.3 million. The joint effort, coordinated by the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC), targeted investment fraud, mobile‑money scams and fake loan schemes across 16 countries. Authorities seized 2,341 devices, shut down 1,442 malicious websites, and identified 1,247 victims who suffered over $45 million in losses between December 8 and January 30. Key actions included dismantling a Nigerian investment‑fraud ring, arresting 27 Kenyan suspects, and taking 58 suspects in Côte d’Ivoire for predatory mobile‑loan practices. The operation underscores the importance of cross‑border cooperation in combating transnational cybercrime.

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