A Thousand Arrested in African Cybercrime Strike

Attackers behind ransomware, business email compromise, digital extortion and online scams were targeted.

A two-month initiative aimed at combating cybercrime across Africa has seen the dismantling of 134,089 malicious infrastructures, and the arrest of 1,006 suspects.

Named ‘Operation Serengeti’, the INTERPOL and AFRIPOL operation identified more than 35,000 victims, and targeted criminals behind ransomware, business email compromise, digital extortion and online scams.

Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL, said: “From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern.

“Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together, and these arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from real personal and financial pain. We know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will continue targeting these criminal groups worldwide.”

Cyber Crime Published: 28 November