By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
A major International Police (INTERPOL) operation across 14 African countries has led to the arrest of 260 suspected scammers, with Ghanaian authorities playing a pivotal role by apprehending 68 individuals and seizing a massive haul of evidence.
The coordinated crackdown, dubbed Operation Contender 3.0, targeted criminal networks exploiting social media and dating platforms to run romance scams and sextortion schemes, causing an estimated $2.8 million in losses to at least 1,463 identified victims globally.
According to INTERPOL, Ghana’s contribution was one of the largest among participating nations. Police confiscated 835 electronic devices, identified 108 victims, and uncovered financial losses amounting to $450,000. Out of this, $70,000 has already been recovered.
“Ghanaian authorities arrested 68 individuals, seized 835 devices and identified 108 victims. Their investigations revealed USD 450,000 in financial losses, with USD 70,000 recovered,” the INTERPOL statement confirmed.
Investigations revealed that suspects created fake profiles, forged identities, and used stolen images to deceive victims, often demanding payments through elaborate schemes involving fake courier and customs fees.
In sextortion cases, criminals secretly recorded intimate videos during explicit chats and used them for blackmail, threatening to release the content unless victims paid up.
Across Africa, the operation, which ran from July 28 to August 11, 2025, saw authorities seize 1,235 electronic devices, take down 81 cybercrime infrastructures, and recover critical evidence, including USB drives, SIM cards, forged IDs, and domain accounts.
The crackdown was funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and supported by private cybersecurity partners Group-IB and Trend Micro.
Cyril Gout, Acting Executive Director of Police Services at INTERPOL, warned of a growing menace:
“Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams. The growth of online platforms has opened new opportunities for criminal networks to exploit victims, causing both financial loss and psychological harm.”
He stressed that cross-border collaboration was vital for disrupting cybercriminal networks and protecting vulnerable internet users.
In Senegal, police arrested 22 suspects who impersonated celebrities, scamming 120 victims out of $34,000.
In Côte d’Ivoire, authorities dismantled a ring behind sextortion scams, leading to 24 arrests and the identification of 809 victims.
In Angola, eight suspects were caught using fake identities and fraudulent documents to defraud victims online.
Operation Contender 3.0 highlights both the scale of cyber-enabled fraud in Africa and the key role of Ghana’s cybercrime units in tackling transnational scams.
INTERPOL says follow-up investigations are ongoing, with more victims expected to be identified and further arrests likely in the coming months.
