Cracking Down On Cyber Crime In Africa

Uploaded on 2025-04-01 in NEWS-Cybersecurity News, GOVERNMENT-Law Enforcement, FREE TO VIEW

Law enforcement authorities in seven African countries have arrested 306 suspects and confiscated 1,842 devices as part of an international operation code-named Red Card that took place between November 2024 and February 2025. Operation Red Card aims to disrupt and dismantle cross-border criminal networks which cause significant harm to individuals and businesses.

In particular, the operation targeted mobile banking, investment and messaging app scams. The cases uncovered during the operation involved more than 5,000 victims. The countries that participated in the operation include Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia.

The coordinated effort "aims to disrupt and dismantle cross-border criminal networks which cause significant harm to individuals and businesses," INTERPOL said, adding it focused on targeted mobile banking, investment, and messaging app scams. The cyber-enabled scams involved more than 5,000 victims. Russian cyber security vendor Kaspersky said that it has shared with INTERPOL its analysis of a malicious Android application that targeted users in African countries along with information on related infrastructure.

As part of the crackdown, Nigerian police arrested 130 people, including 113 foreign nationals, for their alleged involvement in online casino and investment fraud. Some of the individuals working in scam centres are said to be victims of human trafficking, and forced into carrying out illegal schemes.

Another notable operation involved the arrest of 40 people by South African authorities and the seizure of more than 1,000 SIM cards that were used for large-scale SMS phishing attacks.

Elsewhere, Zambian officials apprehended 14 suspected members of a criminal syndicate that hacked into victims' phones and gained unauthorised access to their banking apps by installing malware via SMS phishing links.

Group-IB said the malware enabled bad actors to also gain control over messaging applications, allowing them to propagate the fraudulent link to others.

Also arrested were 45 members of a criminal network by Rwandan authorities for their involvement in social engineering scams that defrauded victims of more than $305,000 in 2024. Of the stolen funds, $103,043 has been recovered and 292 devices seized.

These arrests follow INTERPOL announcement in February 2025 a partnership with the African Development Bank Group to better combat corruption, financial crime, cyber-enabled fraud, and money laundering in the region.
Operation Red Card marks a major step forward in global efforts to tackle cybercrime, reinforcing the need for continued international cooperation to combat emerging digital threats, Interpol said.

Their tactics used by cyber criminals included posing as telecommunications employees and claiming fake 'jackpot' wins to extract sensitive information and gain access to victims' mobile banking accounts.

Another method involved impersonating an injured family member to ask relatives for financial assistance towards hospital bills.

Image: Ideogram

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