Rabat – Authorities collaborating across continents say they have disrupted a major cybercrime network operating in Africa, with over 260 suspects arrested and accused of using false romantic relationships and threats with explicit content to extort victims. The operation, dubbed “Operation Contender 3.0,” ran from July to August 2025 and spanned 14 African nations.
According to Interpol, investigators traced IP addresses, online infrastructures, social media profiles, and domains linked to the criminal syndicates.
During the campaign, law enforcement dismantled 81 cybercrime operations, seized more than 1,235 electronic devices (including USB drives, SIM cards, forged documents), and disrupted networks facilitating fraud and blackmail.
Interpol and partner agencies estimate that 1,463 victims fell prey to these schemes, losing nearly $2.8 million in total.
In many instances, perpetrators posed under false identities or impersonated public figures, luring victims into trusting relationships online, then demanding money (via fake shipment fees or customs charges) or threatening to release intimate content if demands were not met.
Operation highlights
Ghana recorded the greatest number of arrests with 68 people detained, 835 devices seized, and more than 100 victims identified. Losses in Ghana alone were estimated around USD 450,000, of which about USD 70,000 has reportedly been recovered.
In Senegal, 22 suspects were arrested for creating fake celebrity personas to defraud over 120 victims of about USD 34,000; authorities seized forged IDs and digital evidence in the process.
In Côte d’Ivoire, investigators identified 809 victims tied to sextortion schemes, and 24 suspects were arrested.
Angola also featured in the sweep, detaining eight suspects linked to 28 cases involving both local and cross-border victims.
Interpol officials emphasized that this operation was made possible by strong cooperation with national police, regional agencies, and private cybersecurity firms like Group-IB and Trend Micro, which provided technical support, data sharing, and threat intelligence.
Cyril Gout, Acting Executive Director of Police Services at Interpol, warned that the expansion of online platforms presents ever-greater opportunities for criminals to exploit vulnerabilities, and that this arrest wave is only a first step.
“By working closely with our member countries and private sector partners, we remain committed to disrupting and dismantling the groups that prey on vulnerable individuals online,” he said.
But the challenges ahead remain steep. Many African states still lack robust legal frameworks or resources to prosecute cybercrimes effectively. Investigators say tracing money flows, proving cross-border liability, and ensuring victims’ protections are all major obstacles.
This operation is not the first of its kind. In late 2024, Interpol and Afripol ran “Operation Serengeti,” leading to over 1,000 arrests across Africa in a broader campaign against cyber fraud, ransomware, and digital extortion.
The scale of the 2025 arrests signals intensification with criminals shifting tactics toward emotional manipulation, deception, and digital blackmail.
Online romantic overtures can mask deeper traps. As law enforcement steps up, individuals must remain critical, protect personal data, and treat unsolicited expressions of affection online with caution.
Read Also: Meta: Beware of Valentine’s Day Scammers
