Red Hot Cyber
Cybersecurity, Cybercrime News and Vulnerability Analysis
A major international operation against online scammers who have been defrauding individuals and businesses for years has concluded in Africa. Over the course of eight weeks, law enforcement arrested hundreds of suspects and seized millions of dollars in illicit proceeds.
Operation ” Red Card 2.0 ” ran from December 8, 2025, to January 30, 2026, coordinated by INTERPOL. Law enforcement agencies from 16 countries across the continent participated. Thanks to this operation, 651 people were arrested and over $4.3 million was recovered . The investigation uncovered schemes that caused losses totaling over $45 million. 1,247 victims were identified, primarily from African countries, but also from other regions.
Law enforcement seized 2,341 devices and disabled 1,442 malicious IP addresses, domains, and servers, as well as other infrastructure supporting the fraudulent networks. Neil Jetton, head of the organization’s cybercrime division, noted that these groups cause significant financial and psychological damage and operate across borders , so they cannot be stopped without close cooperation.
In Nigeria, police dismantled a group promoting high-yield investment projects. The group had recruited young people and trained them in phishing, identity theft, and social engineering . The criminals had created over a thousand fake social media accounts. Investigators discovered a residential building constructed by the group’s leader and used as a command center.
Twenty-seven people involved in fraudulent investment schemes have been arrested in Kenya. Victims were persuaded to invest as little as $50 in supposedly stocks of well-known global companies. They were shown fake earnings reports, but when they attempted to withdraw their funds, access was blocked.
In Ivory Coast, law enforcement arrested 58 suspects in a mobile loan fraud case . They seized 240 phones, 25 laptops, and over 300 SIM cards . The scammers used apps and messaging apps to promise quick loans without verification, then charged hidden fees, pressured users to collect debts, and collected confidential data.
Separately, Nigerian security forces disrupted the activities of another group that had accessed the internal platform of a major telecommunications operator using employee credentials. Six individuals were arrested on charges of stealing large amounts of data and minutes and then reselling them.
The operation was part of a joint African initiative to combat cybercrime, supported by the British Foreign Office and a European Union and Council of Europe project.
Follow us on Google News to receive daily updates on cybersecurity. Contact us if you would like to report news, insights or content for publication.
