Operation Red Card, led by INTERPOL, has made significant strides in combating cyber crimes across seven African countries. This collaborative effort involved the arrest of over 306 individuals suspected of involvement in various cyber crimes, including mobile banking, investment, and messaging app scams.
From November 2024 to February 2025, law enforcement agencies from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia worked together to apprehend cyber criminals involved in a range of illicit activities. The operation targeted scams such as online casino and investment fraud, social engineering schemes, and SIM box fraud.
In Nigeria, authorities apprehended 130 individuals, including 113 foreign nationals, who were allegedly involved in cyber-enabled scams. These suspects were said to have engaged in online casino and investment fraud, converting their proceeds into digital assets to avoid detection. In Zambia, fourteen suspects were arrested for hacking into victims’ phones using malicious links, gaining access to banking apps through compromised messaging accounts.
Rwandan authorities arrested 45 individuals for their involvement in social engineering scams that defrauded victims of over USD 305,000 in 2024. These scams involved tactics such as posing as telecom employees or impersonating family members in need of financial assistance. In South Africa, forty individuals were arrested, and over 1,000 SIM cards and several desktops were seized in connection with a sophisticated SIM box fraud scheme. This setup was used to reroute international calls as local ones for large-scale SMS phishing attacks.
Operation Red Card was made possible through INTERPOL’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) and was supported by threat intelligence data shared by Kaspersky. The operation resulted in the seizure of 1,842 devices, demonstrating the success of international cooperation in combating cybercrime.
Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, highlighted the operation’s success as a testament to the power of collaboration in fighting cybercrime. He stated, “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.”
The partnership between INTERPOL and Kaspersky aims to improve cyber safety by sharing data on local cyber threats and trends. As cyber threats continue to evolve, it is essential for public and private sectors to work together to create a more resilient cyber environment. The success of Operation Red Card serves as a reminder of the importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime.
With assets recovered and key suspects arrested, Operation Red Card has sent a clear message to cybercriminals worldwide that their illegal activities will not be tolerated. This operation represents a significant step forward in the ongoing battle against cybercrime, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts in safeguarding digital safety.