Interpol has arrested 260 people across 14 African countries in a coordinated crackdown on online romance and extortion scams that defrauded more than 1,400 victims of nearly $2.8 million.
The operation, reported by DW Africa, underscores the rising global threat of digital fraud, which preys on vulnerable individuals through emotional manipulation, deception, and blackmail.
🇬🇭 Ghana: 68 Arrested, $70,000 Recovered
In Ghana, authorities arrested 68 suspects, seized 835 devices, and identified 108 victims. Investigations revealed financial losses amounting to $450,000, with $70,000 successfully recovered.
Criminals deployed tactics such as fake profiles, stolen images, and forged identities to lure victims into relationships. Victims were then pressured into making payments through schemes involving fraudulent courier fees, customs charges, and in some cases, sextortion.
🇸🇳 Senegal: Celebrity Impersonation Scams
Senegalese police arrested 22 suspects linked to a network that impersonated celebrities on social media and dating platforms.
The group defrauded 120 victims of around $34,000 through emotional manipulation. Police also seized 65 devices, forged identification documents, and money transfer records.
🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire: Blackmail Through Intimate Images
In Côte d’Ivoire, police dismantled a cybercrime ring that created fake profiles to lure vulnerable individuals into sharing intimate content.
Once obtained, the material was used for blackmail, with payments demanded to prevent public exposure. Authorities arrested 24 suspects, seized 29 devices, and identified 809 victims.
🇦🇴 Angola: Social Media Traps
Angolan authorities arrested 8 individuals and identified 28 domestic and international victims. Offenders primarily targeted victims via social media platforms, using fraudulent documents and false identities to conceal their operations.
🌍 A Growing Global Menace
Interpol said the arrests highlight how romance fraud and sextortion have become international threats, exploiting trust and emotions for profit.
The agency has pledged to strengthen intelligence-sharing and cross-border cooperation to dismantle criminal networks operating in Africa and beyond.
Source: Citi News
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