INTERPOL dismantles $2.8m African cybercrime ring, arresting 68 scammers in Ghana
A major International Police (INTERPOL) operation conducted across 14 African countries has led to the arrest of 260 suspected scammers, with Ghanaian authorities playing a vital role by apprehending 68 individuals and seizing a large quantity of evidence.
The coordinated crackdown, dubbed Operation Contender 3.0, targeted criminal networks utilizing social media and dating platforms to perpetrate romance scams and sextortion schemes, resulting in estimated losses of $2.8 million to at least 1,463 identified victims worldwide.
According to INTERPOL, Ghana’s contribution was one of the largest among participating nations. Police confiscated 835 electronic devices, identified 108 victims, and uncovered financial losses amounting to $450,000. Out of this amount, $70,000 has already been recovered.
“Ghanaian authorities arrested 68 individuals, seized 835 devices, and identified 108 victims. Their investigations revealed USD 450,000 in financial losses, with USD 70,000 recovered,” the INTERPOL statement confirmed.
Investigations disclosed that suspects manufactured fake digital personas, falsified identities, and utilized stolen images to deceive victims, often exacting payments through complex schemes entailing fake courier and customs fees.
In sextortion cases, criminals covertly recorded intimate videos during explicit online interactions and leveraged them for extortion, threatening to disseminate the content unless victims made payments.
Across Africa, the operation, which transpired from July 28 to August 11, 2025, resulted in authorities seizing 1,235 electronic devices, dismantling 81 cybercrime infrastructures, and recovering critical evidence, including USB drives, SIM cards, forged IDs, and domain accounts.
The operation received funding from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and garnered support from private cybersecurity partners Group-IB and Trend Micro.
Cyril Gout, Acting Executive Director of Police Services at INTERPOL, warned of an intensifying menace: “Cybercrime units across Africa are observing a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes, such as sextortion and romance scams. The proliferation of online platforms has opened up new avenues for criminal networks to exploit victims, causing financial loss and psychological harm.”
He emphasized the need for cross-border collaboration to disrupt cybercriminal networks and protect vulnerable internet users.
In Senegal, police arrested 22 suspects who impersonated celebrities, scamming 120 victims out of $34,000.
In Côte d’Ivoire, authorities dismantled a ring behind sextortion scams, resulting in 24 arrests and the identification of 809 victims.
In Angola, law enforcement officials have detained eight suspects for using fictitious identities and fraudulent documents to commit online fraud.
Operation Contender 3.0 emphasizes the magnitude of cyber-enabled fraud in Africa and the vital role of Ghana’s cybercrime units in tackling transnational scams.
INTERPOL notes that further investigations are ongoing, with additional victims expected to be identified and supplementary arrests anticipated in the near future.
