The Digest:
The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has arrested 651 suspects across 16 African nations, including Nigeria, in a major crackdown on online fraud codenamed Operation Red Card 2.0. The eight-week operation (December 8, 2025, January 30, 2026) targeted high-yield investment scams, mobile money fraud, and fraudulent loan applications linked to over $45 million in financial losses, with 1,247 victims identified, mostly from Africa. In Nigeria, police dismantled a high-yield investment fraud syndicate that recruited young individuals for phishing, identity theft, and fake digital asset schemes, taking down over 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts. Six members of a cybercrime syndicate were arrested for infiltrating a major telecom provider's platform using compromised staff credentials to siphon airtime and data. Across Africa, operatives seized 2,341 devices, 1,442 malicious IP addresses, and recovered over $4.3 million.
Key Points:
- The massive takedown disrupts transnational cybercrime networks, causing significant financial harm.
- It demonstrates the power of international police cooperation in combating online fraud.
- Victims gain protection, while cybercriminals face justice across multiple jurisdictions.
- This signals the growing sophistication of African cybercrime operations.
- The timing, with over 1,000 social media accounts dismantled in Nigeria, reflects targeted action.
Sources: TheCable, Interpol
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