In a massive operation spanning 14 African countries, Interpol has apprehended 260 individuals accused of online romance and extortion scams, which duped over 1,400 victims out of nearly $2.8 million.
Ghanaian authorities arrested 68 suspects, confiscated 835 devices, and identified 108 victims, with investigations revealing $450,000 in financial losses, of which $70,000 was recovered.
The scammers used fake profiles, forged identities, and stolen images to deceive victims, often extracting payments through fake courier fees or blackmailing them with intimate videos. In Senegal, police busted a network impersonating celebrities, defrauding 120 victims of $34,000. Côte d’Ivoire authorities dismantled a cybercrime ring that manipulated vulnerable individuals into sharing compromising images, blackmailing them for payments.
Interpol emphasized that online romance fraud has become a global threat, exploiting trust and emotions to defraud victims. The agency vowed to intensify international cooperation to dismantle these criminal networks.
