In a sweeping international operation codenamed "Red Card," law enforcement authorities across seven African nations have arrested 306 suspects and seized 1,842 electronic devices used in cyber-enabled fraud schemes.
The four-month operation, conducted between November 2024 and February 2025, targeted criminal networks involved in mobile banking fraud, investment scams, and messaging app schemes that affected over 5,000 victims across Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia.
Nigerian authorities made the largest number of arrests, apprehending 130 suspects, including 113 foreign nationals involved in online casino and investment fraud operations. The raids in Nigeria also led to the seizure of 26 vehicles, 16 houses, 39 plots of land, and 685 devices. Investigators discovered evidence suggesting some scam center workers were victims of human trafficking.
In Rwanda, police arrested 45 members of a criminal network that defrauded victims of more than $305,000 through social engineering scams. The group posed as telecommunications employees and created fake lottery wins to steal sensitive information. Authorities recovered $103,043 of the stolen funds.
South African law enforcement detained 40 individuals and confiscated over 1,000 SIM cards used in phishing attacks. Meanwhile, Zambian officials arrested 14 suspects who allegedly used malware to hack victims' phones and gain unauthorized access to banking applications.
"Operation Red Card shows the power of international cooperation in fighting cybercrime," said Neal Jetton, INTERPOL's Director of the Cybercrime Directorate. "These arrests send a clear message that cybercriminal activities will face consequences."
The operation comes as INTERPOL recently announced a new partnership with the African Development Bank Group to strengthen efforts against corruption, financial crime, and cyber fraud in the region.