At least 27 Kenyans have been arrested in a major international operation targeting online scams, as part of a broader Africa-wide crackdown that netted 651 arrests and recovered more than $4.3 million (Sh555 million).
The operation, Red Card 2.0, which ran from December 8, 2025, to January 30, 2026, focused on high-yield investment scams, mobile money fraud, and fake loan applications.
In Kenya, the arrested individuals were linked to schemes that used messaging apps, social media, and fabricated testimonials to lure victims into making fake investments in reputable global corporations.
Scammers often solicited small initial amounts, sometimes as little as $50 (Sh6, 400), promising lucrative returns.
Victims were shown fabricated account statements or dashboards, but withdrawal requests were systematically blocked.
Speaking on the success of the operation, INTERPOL’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, Neal Jetton, said: “These organised cybercriminal syndicates inflict devastating financial and psychological harm on individuals, businesses and entire communities with their false promises. Operation Red Card highlights the importance of collaboration when combatting transnational cybercrime."
"I encourage all victims of cybercrime to reach out to law enforcement for help," he added.
The operation exposed scams linked to over $45 (Sh5.8 billion) in losses across the continent and identified 1,247 victims, predominantly in Africa.
Authorities seized 2,341 devices and took down 1,442 malicious IPs, domains, servers, and related infrastructure.
Elsewhere on the continent, law enforcement agencies achieved major successes.
Nigeria dismantled a high-yield investment fraud ring exploiting phishing and fake digital asset schemes, while Côte d’Ivoire authorities arrested 58 suspects involved in mobile loan scams targeting vulnerable populations.
“Over 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts were taken down and investigators uncovered a residential property constructed by the syndicate ringleader to serve as the operational hub for the criminal activities,” INTERPOL said in a statement.
The operation also disrupted cybercriminals siphoning airtime and data from telecommunications providers in Nigeria and arrested six.
The suspects are said to infiltrate the internal platform through compromised staff login credentials.
In Côte d’Ivoire, law enforcement made 58 arrests and seized 240 mobile phones, 25 laptops and over 300 SIM cards in a targeted operation against mobile loan fraud.
“These scams predominantly targeted vulnerable populations through deceptive mobile applications and messaging services, attracting victims with promises of quick, unsecured loans, only to impose fees, enforce abusive debt-collection practices and illicitly harvest sensitive personal and financial data,” the statement further reads.
Operation Red Card 2.0 was conducted under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) initiative, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The Global Action on Cybercrime Enhanced (GLACY-e) project, a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe, provided operation-specific support.
Participating member countries-Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
INTERPOL facilitated intelligence sharing, real-time information exchange, and capacity building, including training on digital forensic tools, with partners including Cybercrime Atlas, Team Cymru, Trend Micro, TRM Labs, and Uppsala Security.
The operation highlights the critical importance of regional and international collaboration in combatting online scams, as authorities continue to target cybercriminals exploiting digital platforms and social media across Africa.
Comments 0
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!