Thirty-nine individuals have been arrested across seven African nations as part of a significant international campaign to combat cybercrime. This operation, running from November 2024 to February 2025 and dubbed “Operation Red Card,” targeted fraud networks using mobile banking platforms, investment schemes, and messaging services. Over 5,000 victims have been identified in this period.

Within Nigeria, the operation’s main focus, authorities arrested 130 individuals, including 113 foreigners, for online fraud and investment scams. Some of these suspects were reportedly victims of trafficking and forced into committing cybercrimes. Seized assets included 26 vehicles, 16 houses, and 685 devices.

In South Africa, the disruption of a SIM box fraud operation led to the arrest of 40 individuals. Police confiscated 1,000 SIM cards and 53 desktops used in extensive SMS phishing attacks.

Zambian authorities arrested 14 individuals for their involvement in hacking, using malware-laced messages to access victims’ phones and banking apps.

Rwandan police apprehended 45 suspects responsible for scams that swindled victims of over $305,000. Pretending to be telecommunications staff or false relatives, these fraudsters looted financial information. Authorities managed to recover $103,043 and 292 devices.

In a press statement released on Monday, March 24, INTERPOL’s Neal Jetton praised the operation as a major success in the battle against cybercrime, cautioning criminals that they “will not go unpunished.” The operation received support from INTERPOL’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) and the UK Foreign Office, with assistance from cybersecurity firms Group-IB, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro. Other countries involved in the initiative were Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo. Officials emphasize the necessity of continued collaboration to address the increasing threat of cyber fraud.

Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/03/24/cybercrime-crackdown-306-arrested-in-africa-wide-operation/