Authorities in seven African countries have arrested 306 suspects and seized 1,842 devices in a co-ordinated international operation targeting cyber-enabled fraud and online scams.

The arrests were part of Operation Red Card, an Interpol-led initiative running from November 2024 to February 2025, aimed at dismantling cross-border criminal networks responsible for large-scale cyber fraud. The operation focused on mobile banking scams, fraudulent investment schemes, and messaging app fraud, uncovering over 5,000 victims affected by these illicit activities.

In Nigeria, police arrested 130 individuals, including 113 foreign nationals, in connection with cyber-enabled fraud, such as online casino and investment scams. The suspects allegedly converted their illicit proceeds into digital assets to evade detection. Investigators found that many of those working in scam centres may themselves be victims of human trafficking, forced into fraudulent activities.

Authorities seized 26 vehicles, 16 houses, 39 plots of land, and 685 electronic devices as part of the investigation.

In South Africa, police apprehended 40 individuals linked to a sophisticated SIM box fraud scheme. Officers confiscated more than 1,000 SIM cards and 53 desktops and computer towers. The scam involved rerouting international calls as local ones, a tactic often used by criminals to conduct large-scale SMS phishing attacks.

In Zambia, authorities arrested 14 members of a criminal syndicate that hacked into victims’ mobile phones. The scammers sent messages containing malicious links, which, when clicked, installed malware onto the device. This enabled hackers to take over the victim’s messaging apps and banking applications.

The malware also spread through messaging conversations and group chats, compromising even more victims.

In Rwanda, police detained 45 individuals involved in social engineering scams that defrauded victims of over USD 305,000 in 2024 alone. Criminals impersonated telecommunications employees and falsely claimed that victims had won a jackpot, tricking them into sharing sensitive personal details.

Other scams involved fraudsters posing as injured family members requesting money for hospital bills. During the operation, authorities recovered USD 103,043 and seized 292 electronic devices.

Neal Jetton, Interpol’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, highlighted the success of the operation, stating:

“The success of Operation Red Card demonstrates the power of international cooperation in combating cybercrime, which knows no borders and can have devastating effects on individuals and communities. The recovery of significant assets and devices, as well as the arrest of key suspects, sends a strong message to cybercriminals that their activities will not go unpunished.”

Before launching the operation, participating nations shared intelligence on key targets. Interpol enriched this data with insights from private sector partners, including Group-IB, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro, to track criminal operations more effectively.

The operation was conducted under Interpol’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC), a programme funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

The seven participating countries were Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia

Operation Red Card marks a major step forward in global efforts to tackle cybercrime, reinforcing the need for continued international cooperation to combat emerging digital threats.