Authorities in 19 African countries have arrested 1,006 suspects and dismantled over 134,000 malicious infrastructures as part of Operation Serengeti. The joint initiative, led by Interpol and Afripol, targeted cybercriminals behind ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and online scams.

Spanning two months from September 2 to October 31, the operation identified more than 35,000 victims and financial losses exceeding $193 million worldwide.

In Kenya, investigators uncovered a sophisticated online credit card fraud operation responsible for $8.6 million in losses. The perpetrators exploited vulnerabilities in banking security systems to run fraudulent scripts, funneling the stolen funds via SWIFT transfers to companies in the UAE, Nigeria, and China, before laundering the money through digital asset institutions. Authorities have made nearly two dozen arrests.

In Senegal, eight suspects, including five Chinese nationals, were arrested for operating a $6 million Ponzi scheme. Their apartment yielded over 900 SIM cards, $11,000 in cash, and victims’ ID cards. The scheme targeted 1,811 victims with promises of high returns.

In Nigeria, a man accused of running online cryptocurrency scams was apprehended. He allegedly made $300,000 by deceiving victims on messaging platforms with false promises of investment returns.

In Cameroon, a group was arrested for trafficking individuals from seven countries into a multi-level marketing scam. Victims paid membership fees under the pretense of job training, only to be coerced into recruiting others to escape captivity. Initial estimates suggest the group amassed $150,000.

In Angola, authorities dismantled an international criminal network operating a fraudulent virtual casino in Luanda. The scam targeted Brazilian and Nigerian gamblers, promising earnings to those who recruited new members. Investigators arrested 150 individuals and seized 200 computers and over 100 mobile phones.