Interpol arrested 260 African romance scammers after an intensive cybercrime bust. Interpol revealed that a coordinated crackdown across Africa has led to the apprehension of 260 individuals believed to be at the centre of sophisticated online romance and extortion schemes. The staggering haul of arrests has sent shockwaves through the criminal underworld and offers a glimmer of hope to thousands of defrauded individuals.
The meticulously planned operation, which ran throughout July and August, targeted criminal networks specialising in manipulating victims through fake online relationships.
These scams, known as romance fraud and sextortion, involve perpetrators building trust and affection before demanding money or blackmailing their targets with compromising images. The human cost is immense, with Interpol confirming that over 1,400 people were swindled out of a heartbreaking US$2.8 million.
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Interpol Cracks down Down on 260 African Romance Scammers
Authorities have been alarmed by the rapid expansion of these digital crimes. Speaking on the operation’s success, Cyril Gout, the acting executive director of police services at Interpol, highlighted the severity of the situation. He stated,
“Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams.” Gout further explained the modern criminal methodology, noting, “The growth of online platforms has opened new opportunities for criminal networks to exploit victims, causing both financial loss and psychological harm.”
The emotional devastation left in the wake of these scams is often as damaging as the financial ruin. Victims, who believe they have found genuine love and connection, are left betrayed and humiliated, making these crimes particularly cruel in their execution.
Nations Unite to Net the Culprits
The scale of the operation was vast, with police forces in fourteen African nations collaborating to bring the suspects to justice. Ghanaian authorities were notably successful, arresting 68 individuals connected to these heartless cons. These suspects are accused of crafting elaborate fake identities to lure their targets, first convincing them to pay fraudulent shipping fees for non-existent gifts and then secretly recording explicit videos to use for blackmail.
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Neighbouring Senegal also saw significant police action, with 22 suspects taken into custody. Their alleged modus operandi involved impersonating high-profile celebrities on popular social media and dating platforms, a ruse that successfully scammed more than 100 people out of approximately US$34,000. Meanwhile, in the Ivory Coast, 24 people were arrested for operating fake profiles specifically designed to obtain intimate images from victims, which were then used as leverage for extortion.
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The post Interpol Cracks Down On 260 African Romance Scammers In Cybercrime Bust appeared first on iHarare News.
