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Operation Serengeti: A Global Crackdown on Cybercrime - INTERPOL and AFRIPOL launch massive operation to combat cybercrime across 19 African countries, resulting in the arrest of 1,006 suspects and the dismantling of 134,089 malicious networks and infrastructures.
Africa-wide law enforcement operation "Operation Serengeti" was launched to combat cybercrime by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL.The operation resulted in the arrest of 1,006 suspects across 19 African countries.The authorities dismantled 134,089 malicious networks and infrastructures.The total number of victims affected by these cybercrimes is estimated to be over 35,000 with losses totaling USD 193 million.Participating countries included Algeria, Angola, Benin, and others.Notable successes included the arrest of individuals behind online credit card fraud schemes worth millions.The operation showed that collaboration between law enforcement agencies is crucial in combating cybercrime.
In a significant move to combat cybercrime, INTERPOL and AFRIPOL have jointly launched Operation Serengeti, a massive law enforcement operation that has resulted in the arrest of 1,006 suspects across 19 African countries. The operation, which was carried out from September 2 to October 31, aimed to target individuals and groups involved in various forms of cybercrime, including ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and online scams.
According to INTERPOL, the operation was a result of extensive intelligence gathering and collaboration between law enforcement agencies across Africa. The agency stated that the operation targeted individuals who were identified as prominent threats in the 2024 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report. These threats included ransomware, BEC, digital extortion, and online scams, all of which have been identified as significant concerns for businesses and individuals alike.
The operation was a success, with law enforcement agencies arresting 1,006 suspects across 19 African countries. Additionally, the authorities dismantled 134,089 malicious networks and infrastructures. The total number of victims affected by these cybercrimes is estimated to be over 35,000, with losses totaling USD 193 million.
The participating countries in the operation were Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Each country played a crucial role in the success of the operation, with law enforcement agencies working together to identify and apprehend those involved in cybercrime.
One notable example of the impact of Operation Serengeti was in Kenya, where authorities uncovered an $8.6 million online credit card fraud scheme. The stolen funds were redistributed via SWIFT to firms in the UAE, Nigeria, China, and digital assets platforms. Kenyan police arrested 20 individuals in connection with this scheme.
In Senegal, authorities also made significant arrests, including eight people who were arrested for a $6 million Ponzi scheme that affected 1,811 victims. The authorities seized items including 900 SIM cards, $11,000 in cash, phones, and victim ID copies.
Nigeria also saw significant action taken by law enforcement agencies, as they arrested a man behind a $300,000 crypto scam. In Cameroon, authorities uncovered a $150,000 trafficking and MLM scheme that held victims captive. Angola also took action, dismantling a virtual casino targeting Brazilian and Nigerian gamblers, arresting 150 people and seizing 200 computers and 100 phones.
The success of Operation Serengeti was hailed by INTERPOL, which stated that the operation showed what could be achieved when law enforcement agencies worked together to combat cybercrime. The agency's Secretary General, Valdecy Urquiza, noted that the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks was a serious concern, and that operations like Operation Serengeti were crucial in combating these threats.
Urquiza stated, "From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern. Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together, and these arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from real personal and financial pain. We know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will continue targeting these criminal groups worldwide."
In conclusion, Operation Serengeti was a significant success for law enforcement agencies across Africa in their efforts to combat cybercrime. The operation resulted in the arrest of 1,006 suspects and the dismantling of 134,089 malicious networks and infrastructures. The impact of this operation will be felt for some time, as it serves as a reminder of the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies in combating cybercrime.
Operation Serengeti: A Global Crackdown on Cybercrime - INTERPOL and AFRIPOL launch massive operation to combat cybercrime across 19 African countries, resulting in the arrest of 1,006 suspects and the dismantling of 134,089 malicious networks and infrastructures.
Related Information:
https://securityaffairs.com/171462/cyber-crime/operation-serengeti-interpol.html
Published: Wed Nov 27 09:08:33 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
