An international cybercrime operation targeting online scams has resulted in 651 arrests and the recovery of over $4.3 million, coordinated by law enforcement agencies from 16 African countries. The initiative, named Operation Red Card 2.0, ran from December 8, 2025 to January 30, 2026, focusing on high-yield investment scams, mobile money fraud, and fraudulent mobile loan applications.
Participating Countries and Scope
The operation involved Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It was conducted under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC). INTERPOL reported that investigations uncovered scams linked to over $45 million in financial losses, identifying 1,247 victims, mainly from Africa but also from other regions.
Authorities seized 2,341 devices and dismantled 1,442 malicious IPs, domains, and servers, along with other infrastructure used by cybercriminal syndicates.
Notable Cases
- Nigeria: A high-yield investment fraud ring recruiting young individuals for phishing, identity theft, social engineering, and fake digital asset schemes was dismantled, resulting in the removal of over 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts.
- Nigeria: Six members of a sophisticated syndicate were arrested for exploiting staff credentials at a major telecom provider to steal airtime and data for resale.
- Kenya: 27 individuals were arrested for a scheme using messaging apps, social media, and fake testimonials to trick victims into bogus investments, displaying false dashboards while blocking withdrawals.
- Côte d’Ivoire: 58 people were arrested and 240 mobile phones, 25 laptops, and over 300 SIM cards were seized, disrupting a predatory mobile loan fraud targeting vulnerable populations through fake apps and messaging, imposing extra fees, abusive debt collection, and stealing sensitive personal and financial data.
INTERPOL Remarks
“These organized cybercriminal syndicates inflict devastating financial and psychological harm on individuals, businesses, and entire communities with their false promises,” said Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s director of the Cybercrime Directorate. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation in tackling transnational cybercrime and urged victims to report incidents to law enforcement.
Operation Red Card 2.0 follows the first phase of the operation, which ran between November 2024 and February 2025, resulting in 306 arrests and the seizure of 1,842 devices.
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