Interpol coordinated a major operation across 14 African countries, arresting 260 suspects linked to online romance and extortion scams.
The suspects built fake romantic connections to trick victims into sending money or sharing explicit images for blackmail.
Investigators identified over 1,400 victims who collectively lost nearly $2.8 million (€2.4 million) to these schemes.
National Forces Crack Down on Scammers
Ghanaian authorities arrested 68 suspects who used fake identities to collect fraudulent shipping fees and secretly record victims.
Senegal police detained 22 individuals who posed as celebrities to scam over 100 people out of roughly $34,000 (€29,135).
Côte d’Ivoire police captured 24 suspects who created fake profiles to obtain intimate images and extort victims.
Interpol emphasised that digital platforms allow criminals to exploit victims, causing both financial and psychological harm.
Interpol Strengthens Global Cooperation
Headquartered in Lyon, Interpol connects 196 member countries to combat crime, from cybercrime to organised networks.
The organisation supports national police by sharing intelligence and coordinating cross-border operations in counterterrorism and financial crime.
Interpol now faces growing challenges, including rising cybercrime, child exploitation, and internal divisions among member states.
Officials warn that criminal networks increasingly exploit digital gaps, highlighting the need for coordinated international law enforcement.
