"A crackdown on cybercrime coordinated by Interpol has led to the arrests across 14 African countries of 260 people suspected in online romance and extortion scams, the organization announced Friday. The operation took place in July and August and focused on scams in which perpetrators build online romantic relationships to extract money from targets or blackmail them with explicit images, Interpol said. Altogether the scams targeted more than 1,400 victims who lost nearly $2.8 million, the international police organization said."
"Interpol says Ghanaian authorities arrested 68 suspects in romance and sextortion scams. They are accused of using fake identities to trick victims into paying fake shipment fees and secretly recorded explicit videos for blackmail. In Senegal, police arrested 22 suspects who allegedly posed as celebrities on social media and dating platforms to scam over 100 people out of around $34,000, Interpol said."
Interpol coordinated a July-August crackdown across 14 African countries that resulted in the arrests of 260 people suspected of online romance and sextortion scams. The schemes targeted more than 1,400 victims who collectively lost nearly $2.8 million. Perpetrators used fake identities and profiles, posed as celebrities on social media and dating platforms, and solicited payments through fake shipment fees. Perpetrators also secretly recorded explicit videos or obtained intimate images to extort and blackmail victims. National police units in countries including Ghana, Senegal, and Ivory Coast carried out arrests and seizures during the operation.
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