Authorities in seven African nations have arrested 306 suspects and seized 1,842 devices in a large-scale international operation against cyber-enabled scams.
Between November 2024 and February 2025, Operation Red Card targeted cross-border fraud networks exploiting mobile banking, investment platforms, and messaging apps. More than 5,000 victims were identified during the crackdown.
Key Arrests and Seizures
Nigeria:
Nigeria accounted for the majority of arrests, with police apprehending 130 individuals, including 113 foreign nationals, for online scams and investment fraud. Authorities suspect some individuals were trafficked and forced into cybercrime. Seized assets included 26 vehicles, 16 houses, and 685 devices.
South Africa:
Authorities dismantled a SIM box fraud scheme, arresting 40 suspects and confiscating 1,000 SIM cards and 53 desktops used for large-scale SMS phishing attacks.
Zambia:
Police arrested 14 hackers who deployed malware-laced messages to hijack victims’ phones and banking apps.
Rwanda:
In 2024, 45 suspects were detained for scams that defrauded victims of over $305,000. Fraudsters posed as telecom staff or fake family members to steal financial data. Authorities recovered $103,043 and seized 292 devices.
Global Cooperation in the Fight Against Cybercrime
INTERPOL’s Neal Jetton described the operation as a major step in combating cyber fraud, warning that criminals “will not go unpunished.” The crackdown, led by INTERPOL’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) and the UK Foreign Office, received support from cybersecurity firms Group-IB, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro.
Other participating nations included Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo. Officials emphasize that ongoing international cooperation is crucial to tackling the growing cyber fraud threat.
