A sweeping INTERPOL operation across 14 African countries has led to the arrest of 260 suspected cybercriminals, including 68 in Ghana, in a coordinated effort to dismantle online fraud rings behind romance scams and sextortion schemes.
Dubbed Operation Contender 3.0, the crackdown uncovered a continent-wide network of scammers who used fake social media and dating profiles to deceive victims, stealing an estimated $2.8 million from more than 1,400 people worldwide.
According to an INTERPOL statement, the two-week operation—conducted between July 28 and August 11, 2025—resulted in the seizure of 1,235 electronic devices, 81 dismantled cyber infrastructures, and a trove of fake documents, SIM cards, and USB drives. The initiative was supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Ghana’s role was one of the most significant in the region. Local police arrested 68 suspects, confiscated 835 devices, and identified 108 victims. Investigations revealed that the scams had caused financial losses of around $450,000, with $70,000 already recovered.
“The suspects used fake profiles, stolen photos, and fabricated identities to build trust with victims before tricking them into sending money,” INTERPOL said. Many of the schemes involved false stories about courier fees, customs payments, or emergencies.
In more sinister cases, sextortion rings secretly recorded victims during private video chats and later blackmailed them with the footage.
INTERPOL’s Acting Executive Director of Police Services, Cyril Gout, warned that such digital crimes are growing rapidly across Africa.
“Cybercrime units across the continent are reporting a sharp rise in sextortion and romance scams,” he said. “The spread of online platforms has opened new doors for criminals, leading to devastating financial and emotional harm.”
Gout credited the success of the operation to close collaboration between law enforcement agencies, INTERPOL member countries, and private cybersecurity firms such as Group-IB and Trend Micro, which provided key intelligence and helped track digital footprints.
Other participating countries also made major breakthroughs. In Senegal, 22 suspects were arrested for impersonating celebrities to trick 120 victims out of roughly $34,000. Côte d’Ivoire police dismantled a ring behind 24 arrests and 809 victims, while Angolan authorities detained eight people who used fake identities to target unsuspecting victims online.
INTERPOL says it will continue to strengthen its partnerships and expand its digital crime-fighting initiatives, as cyber-enabled scams continue to evolve and cross borders.
Don’t miss out! Get your daily dose of Entertainment news and more straight to your phone. Join Ghana Street Journal Whatsapp channel now!
