Operation Serengeti: 1000 people arrested in Africa for cybercrimes

As part of Operation Serengeti, law enforcement agencies in Africa have arrested more than a thousand people suspected of involvement in cybercrimes. These crimes have caused significant financial losses (almost $193 million worldwide).

The operation was coordinated by Interpol and Afripol between September 2 and October 31 and “targeted criminals behind ransomware, corporate email breaches (BEC), digital extortion and online fraud.”

In total, authorities in 19 African countries arrested 1,006 suspects and dismantled 134,089 malicious infrastructures and networks. Cybersecurity companiesincluding Cybercrime Atlas, Fortinet, Group-IB, Kaspersky, Team Cymru, Trend Micro and Uppsala Security also participated in the operation. The companies helped by providing information on the suspects’ activities.

See also: South Korea: 215 people arrested for crypto investment fraud

Investigators say the suspects and infrastructure were linked to at least 35,224 identified victims, who lost nearly $193 million. Authorities were able to recover about $44 million, as part of Operation Serengeti.

Below, you can see some of the most important actions of this police operation:

• Kenya: An online credit card fraud ring linked to $8.6 million in losses has been dismantled. Funds were stolen through fraudulent scripts and redirected via SWIFT to companies in the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and China. More than 20 arrests were made.

• Senegal: Operation Serengeti dismantled a $6 million Ponzi scheme that affected 1,811 victims. Authorities seized more than 900 SIM cards, $11,000 in cash, phones, laptops and victims' IDs. Eight people were arrested, (five of whom were Chinese).

• Nigeria: A man was arrested for running online investment scams, earning $300,000.

• Cameroon: Disrupted a human trafficking marketing scam affecting people from seven countries. Victims were held captive and forced to recruit others to gain their freedom. The group raised at least $150,000 in membership fees.

• Angola: Authorities dismantled an international group operating a virtual casino in Luanda. The fraudsters defrauded hundreds by offering bonuses to recruit new members. 150 arrests were made, 200 computers and more than 100 mobile phones were seized.

See also: Interpol: Dismantling cybercrime infrastructure – 41 people arrested

The regions that participated in the police operation Operation Serengeti are Algeria, Benin, Ivory Coast, DRC, Gabon, Ghana, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The success of Operation Serengeti highlights the importance of international cooperation in tackling cybercrime and safeguarding the global digital economy.

It also draws attention to the growing threat of cybercrime in Africa. While many may associate cybercriminal activities with regions such as North America and Europe, African countries have seen an increase in these crimes due to rapid technological advancements and increased access to the Internet. This not only affects the local population but also countries around the world, as evidenced by the economic losses caused.

See also: Dstat.cc: DDoS platform seized – Two arrested

In addition to law enforcement efforts, however, there is a need for increased awareness and education about cybersecurity in Africa. This includes educating individuals and businesses on how to recognize and avoid attacks, as well as promoting responsible online practices. By equipping the public with the necessary knowledge and tools, it can help minimize the impact of cybercrime both locally and globally.

Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com