November 26, 2024 at 02:17PM
Operation Serengeti, coordinated by Interpol and Afripol, resulted in over 1,000 arrests across 19 African countries for major cybercrimes causing nearly $193 million in losses. Authorities dismantled numerous scams and recovered around $44 million, targeting ransomware, email fraud, and online scams with significant operations in Kenya, Senegal, and Nigeria, among others.
### Meeting Takeaways: Operation Serengeti Overview
**Operation Summary:**
– **Scope:** A coordinated law enforcement operation targeting cybercriminal activities in Africa.
– **Duration:** September 2nd to October 31st.
– **Coordinators:** Interpol and Afripol.
– **Outcome:** Over 1,000 individuals arrested, 134,089 malicious infrastructures dismantled.
**Financial Impact:**
– **Total Financial Losses:** Approximately $193 million linked to cybercrime activities.
– **Victims:** At least 35,224 identified victims.
– **Funds Recovered:** About $44 million.
**Regional Highlights:**
– **Kenya:**
– Case linked to $8.6 million in online credit card fraud.
– Arrests: Nearly two dozen.
– **Senegal:**
– Dismantled a Ponzi scheme causing $6 million in losses to 1,811 victims.
– Seized items: 900+ SIM cards, $11,000 cash, electronics, victim ID cards.
– Arrests: Eight individuals (including five Chinese nationals).
– **Nigeria:**
– Arrested an individual for running investment scams, earning $300,000 through false cryptocurrency promises.
– **Cameroon:**
– Disrupted a multi-level marketing scam; victims trafficked from seven countries.
– Collected $150,000 in membership fees.
– **Angola:**
– Dismantled an international virtual casino operation.
– Arrests: 150 individuals, with over 200 computers and 100+ mobile phones seized.
**Participating Countries:**
– Algeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Gabon, Ghana, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
**Conclusion:**
Operation Serengeti successfully targeted and arrested numerous individuals involved in cybercrime, revealing significant financial losses and highlighting the collaborative efforts of multiple African nations in combating such activities.