Mohan Sinha
30 Sep 2025, 21:19 GMT+10
DAKAR, Senegal: Interpol says a coordinated crackdown on cybercrime across 14 African countries has led to the arrest of 260 people accused of running online romance and extortion scams.
The operation, carried out in July and August, targeted schemes in which suspects built fake romantic relationships to defraud victims or blackmailed them with intimate images. More than 1,400 people were targeted, losing nearly US$2.8 million, according to the international police organization.
"Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams," said Cyril Gout, Interpol's acting executive director of police services. "The growth of online platforms has opened new opportunities for criminal networks to exploit victims, causing both financial loss and psychological harm."
National authorities carried out arrests across the continent:
Headquartered in Lyon, France, Interpol is the world's largest international police network, with 196 member countries. While best known for facilitating cross-border policing in areas such as counterterrorism, organized crime, and financial fraud, it has increasingly focused on the surge in cybercrime and online child exploitation cases.
Get a daily dose of South America Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to South America Times.
More InformationSAN FRANCISCO, California - YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump, who alleged...
KYIV, Ukraine: Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been on emergency generators for more than a week, heightening...
DAKAR, Senegal: Interpol says a coordinated crackdown on cybercrime across 14 African countries has led to the arrest of 260 people...
WASHINGTON, DC - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is enthusiastic about the Gaza peace plan finalized on Monday at the White...
LIVERPOOL, UK – In a significant rebellion against its own leadership, the UK's governing Labour Party has voted to formally declare...
ABUJA, Nigeria: A Nigerian court has rejected a bid to dismiss terrorism charges against separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, ruling that...
(Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images) If the Philadelphia Eagles successfully execute the 'tush push' against Denver on...
Sun Yingsha dominated in singles and, alongside Wang Chuqin, mounted a comeback to win their mixed doubles match, while fellow Chinese...
New Delhi [India], September 30 (ANI): Saudi Arabia's Naif Almasrahi stunned the crowd with a new World Record in the men's 100m T44...
DUBAI, 30th September, 2025 (WAM) -- The World Governments Summit Organisation has signed a strategic Partnership Agreement with the...
(250930) -- MEXICO CITY, Sept. 30, 2025 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows an exhibit at the Templo Mayor Museum,...
(250930) -- BEIJING, Sept. 30, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Xu Yifan(2nd L)/Yang Zhaoxuan (1st L) greet Timea Babos (1st R) /Luisa Stefani after...
