INTERPOL Arrests 651 in ‘Sharp Boys’ Crackdown — Nigeria and Kenya Top Africa’s Online Fraud List

A major international cybercrime sweep coordinated by INTERPOL has led to the arrest of 651 suspects across 16 African countries, with authorities recovering more than $4.3 million in stolen funds.

The operation, dubbed Operation Red Card 2.0, was carried out between December 8, 2025, and January 30, 2026. It focused on dismantling criminal networks involved in high-return investment scams, mobile money fraud, and fake digital lending schemes.

According to investigators, the crackdown exposed scams connected to more than $45 million in financial losses. A total of 1,247 victims were identified, most of them based in Africa, although some cases stretched beyond the continent.

Authorities also seized 2,341 electronic devices and disabled 1,442 malicious IP addresses, servers, and domains used to run the fraudulent operations.

INTERPOL Warns of Growing Threat

Neal Jetton, Director of Cybercrime at INTERPOL, warned about the serious damage caused by organized cybercrime groups.

“These organized cybercriminal syndicates inflict devastating financial and psychological harm on individuals, businesses, and entire communities with their false promises,” Jetton said.

He added that the success of Operation Red Card shows why international cooperation is critical in fighting cross-border cybercrime.

Nigeria and Kenya Among Key Targets

In Nigeria, police dismantled a major investment fraud network that had recruited young people to conduct phishing attacks, identity theft, and fake cryptocurrency investment scams. Authorities also shut down more than 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts and identified a residential property being used as the group’s operations hub.

In a separate incident, Nigerian officers arrested six suspects accused of breaching a telecommunications company’s internal systems using stolen employee credentials. The group allegedly diverted airtime and data bundles for illegal resale.

Meanwhile, Kenyan authorities arrested 27 suspects linked to online investment scams that used messaging apps and fake testimonials to lure victims with promises of high returns.

In Côte d’Ivoire, police recorded 58 arrests tied to mobile loan fraud schemes that mainly targeted vulnerable individuals.

Private Sector Played Key Role

INTERPOL noted that the operation heavily relied on intelligence sharing and partnerships with private cybersecurity firms and blockchain analysis companies — a sign of how advanced cybercrime networks have become.

Africa Strengthening Digital Crime Fight

The success of Operation Red Card 2.0 signals Africa’s growing ability to tackle digital financial crime. However, experts warn that the rapid growth of internet access, mobile banking, and digital payments across the continent continues to create new opportunities for cybercriminals alongside economic progress.