Ethical Hacking News
Police arrests 300 suspects linked to African cybercrime rings; INTERPOL-led operation targets cross-border cybercriminal networks, seizes devices and assets worth millions
INTERPOL has arrested 306 suspects in "Operation Red Card," an international crackdown on African cybercrime rings.The operation targeted mobile banking, investment, and messaging app scams, and was coordinated with law enforcement agencies from seven African countries.Over 130 individuals were linked to investment fraud and online casino scams, and had concealed their illicit earnings in digital assets.In Nigeria, police detained 14 suspects who hacked into victims' phones via malicious links, installing malware to control messaging accounts and access banking apps.In South Africa, police arrested 40 individuals and confiscated computers and SIM cards linked to a SIM box fraud operation that facilitated SMS phishing attacks.In Rwanda, 45 individuals were detained for social engineering scams that defrauded victims of over $305,000 in 2024.
In a significant development that underscores the growing efforts to combat cross-border cybercrime, INTERPOL has announced the arrest of 306 suspects as part of "Operation Red Card," an international crackdown targeting African cybercrime rings. The operation, which was coordinated by INTERPOL in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from seven African countries – Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia – aimed to dismantle the networks behind various forms of cybercrime, including mobile banking, investment, and messaging app scams.
According to INTERPOL, the operation was preceded by a thorough exchange of criminal intelligence among participating countries, which was subsequently enriched with insights into criminal modus operandi gained from INTERPOL's private sector partners, including Group-IB, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro. This intelligence enabled law enforcement agencies to identify key targets and devise effective strategies for the dismantling of cross-border cybercrime networks.
Among the suspects arrested as part of Operation Red Card were 130 individuals, including 113 foreign nationals, who were linked to investment fraud and online casino scams. These suspects were found to have concealed their illicit earnings in digital assets and had operated in multiple languages, further underscoring the complexities and transnational nature of cybercrime.
In Nigeria alone, police recently detained 14 suspects as part of a cybercrime gang that was allegedly hacking into victims' phones via malicious links that installed malware. This allowed them to control messaging accounts and access banking apps, spreading scams through victims' messaging apps. The suspects were also found to have used SIM boxes to reroute international calls as local ones, facilitating large-scale SMS phishing attacks.
In South Africa, police officers arrested 40 individuals and confiscated over 53 computers and 1,000 SIM cards used in a SIM box fraud operation that was designed to reroute international calls as local ones. This, in turn, facilitated large-scale SMS phishing attacks by allowing scammers to access victims' messaging apps and spread scams.
The operation also led to the detention of 45 individuals in Rwanda, who were linked to a network involved in social engineering scams. These suspects had defrauded victims out of over $305,000 in 2024 using various tactics, including impersonating telecom staff and pretending to be injured relatives seeking financial help.
The success of Operation Red Card serves as a testament to the power of international cooperation in combating cybercrime, which knows no borders and can have devastating effects on individuals and communities. As Neal Jetton, INTERPOL's Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, noted, "The recovery of significant assets and devices, as well as the arrest of key suspects, sends a strong message to cybercriminals that their activities will not go unpunished."
This is not the first major operation targeting cybercrime in Africa in recent years. In April 2023, INTERPOL-led law enforcement agencies launched "Operation Africa Cyber Surge II," which resulted in the disruption of over 20,000 cybercrime networks involved in extortion, phishing, business email compromise (BEC), and online scams, responsible for losses of over $40 million.
The operation marks a significant development in the global effort to combat cross-border cybercrime. As law enforcement agencies continue to enhance their capabilities and exchange intelligence on key targets, it is likely that more operations like Operation Red Card will be launched in the future.
In the meantime, cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies are urging individuals and organizations to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to prevent falling victim to cross-border cybercrime. This includes using robust security software, being cautious when interacting with unsolicited messages or emails, and keeping personal devices and networks up to date with the latest security patches.
In conclusion, Operation Red Card represents a major breakthrough in the global effort to combat cross-border cybercrime. The arrests of 300 suspects linked to African cybercrime rings serve as a testament to the power of international cooperation and law enforcement agencies' efforts to dismantle transnational cybercrime networks.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/African-Cybercrime-Rings-Foiled-Police-Arrests-of-300-Suspects-Mark-Major-Breakthrough-in-Global-Effort-to-Combat-Cross-Border-Cybercrime-ehn.shtml
Published: Mon Mar 24 12:00:09 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
