68 Scammers Arrested in Ghana as INTERPOL Breaks $2.8M Cybercrime Rings Across Africa
In a major crackdown on cyber-fraud networks, INTERPOL and Ghanaian authorities arrested 68 individuals across Ghana for their alleged roles in online romance and sextortion schemes.
The operation, which was funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, spanned 14 African countries, starting from July 28 to August 11, 2025. It resulted in the seizure of 1,235 electronic devices continent-wide.
In course of the operation, police identified IP addresses, digital infrastructures, domains and social media profiles associated to members of the scam syndicates. These helped in the arrest of the criminals and consequently, in the seizure of USB drives, SIM cards, and forged documents, as well as the takedown of 81 cybercrime infrastructures across Africa.
In the Ghanaian arrests, the police confiscated 835 devices, identifying 108 victims, and uncovering financial losses totaling $450,000, of which $70,000 has already been recovered. Suspects were accused of using fake identities, collecting fraudulent shipping fees, and leveraging explicit videos to blackmail victims.
“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,” said in the statement.
Cyril Gout, Acting Executive Director of Police Services at INTERPOL, underscored the growing threat, stating, “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.”
Moreover, Cyril Gout stressed on the fact that collaboration between INTERPOL, its member countries, and private sector partners like Group-IB and Trend Micro was critical to the operation’s success, facilitating enhanced data sharing and swift enforcement actions that led to the takedown of 81 cybercrime infrastructures.
