Authorities have arrested 58 people across 22 countries and six continents in a major international operation targeting organised West African cybercrime networks involved in online fraud and money laundering.
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The operation, known as Operation Jackal IV, was coordinated by INTERPOL and focused on criminal groups linked to romance scams, investment fraud, cryptocurrency-related crimes and other forms of cyber-enabled financial fraud.
Investigators identified 263 suspects, while South African authorities alone arrested 39 people, seized about $2.67 million and froze 257 bank accounts during raids targeting suspected romance and investment scam networks.
Authorities also uncovered growing concerns over online sextortion targeting minors, with some victims reportedly as young as 14.
INTERPOL said the operation demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in disrupting criminal networks and following the financial flows that sustain them.
The crackdown highlights the growing global effort to dismantle organised cybercrime networks operating across borders and prevent online fraud from reaching victims around the world.