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in Romance Scams
asiasentinel.com
· 2026-08-05
Indonesia ranks second globally for fraud vulnerability, with the state-operated Anti-Scam Center recording Rp7.9 trillion (US$474 million) in domestic losses from hundreds of thousands of complaints in a single year, while nearly 25 percent of Indonesian consumers have fallen victim to online scams including romance schemes, investment fraud, and sextortion. Victims report devastating financial hardship and loss of savings, with some fearing homelessness, while scammers are often trafficked individuals coerced into the operations through mistreatment and exploitation.
chautauquacountyny.gov
· 2026-08-05
The Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services is hosting a Fraud and Scam Prevention Program on August 27, 2026, to educate older adults about increasingly sophisticated scams targeting seniors through phone calls, emails, text messages, and social media. Common scams affecting older New Yorkers include impersonation scams, fake government agency calls, romance scams, Medicare fraud, tech support scams, and grandparent scams, with criminals often requesting payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency. The program will teach participants to recognize warning signs and follow the "Stop. Verify. Protect." rule: never act under pressure, independently verify callers using trusted phone numbers, and never share personal
napa-net.org
· 2026-08-05
Scammers are impersonating retailers or government agencies and falsely transferring calls to fake Social Security Administration representatives who claim victims' identities have been stolen and promise new Social Security numbers after victims sign documents. The Social Security Administration warns that legitimate agencies cannot transfer calls directly to SSA or its Office of Inspector General, and any such call is a scam. Seniors should report suspected scams to oig.ssa.gov/report and avoid trusting caller ID numbers, which scammers can easily fake.
kfyrtv.com
· 2026-08-05
Scammers are increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes in romance scams on social media, creating fake videos, audio, and images to impersonate attractive people and trick victims into paying for fake memberships. To verify authenticity, experts recommend requesting video calls through platforms like Zoom, which are more difficult for scammers to manipulate with deepfake technology.
elystandard.co.uk
· 2026-08-04
An elderly woman from Cambridgeshire lost hundreds of pounds in an online romance scam after meeting a man on an over-60s dating website who claimed to be stuck at an airport and needed payment for customs insurance on a gem he intended to give her. The man, who claimed to be based in Kuwait, never materialized and neither did the promised gem. Cambridgeshire Police are warning residents to be aware of romance scammers who target vulnerable elderly people.
yahoo.com
· 2026-08-04
Romance scams cost billions globally annually, with approximately 1 in 10 people age 50 and over reporting they've encountered online romantic connections that requested financial help or cryptocurrency investments. Scammers create fake profiles using stolen photos and celebrity identities to build emotional relationships over months before requesting money, with any financial ask being a clear indicator of fraud. Warning signs include love bombing, pressure for urgency, requests to move communication off social media, and the implausibility of genuine celebrities seeking romantic relationships with unknown internet users.
jurist.org
· 2026-08-04
INTERPOL's 2026 African Cyberthreat Assessment Report reveals that AI now drives over 55% of cybercrime across Africa, with financial losses doubling from $192 million to $484 million since 2024, affecting victims through automated phishing, ransomware, sextortion, and identity fraud schemes. The report documents regional variations including mobile money fraud in East Africa, Business Email Compromise and romance scams in Central and West Africa, and over 600,000 sextortion cases involving AI-generated synthetic media. Law enforcement capabilities lag significantly behind the threat landscape, with 92% of African agencies lacking technical AI expertise and existing international cybercrime treaties containing outdated legal frameworks
bitdefender.com
· 2026-08-04
OpenAI shut down a Cambodia-based network of ChatGPT accounts used by organized criminals to operate multiple simultaneous fraud schemes, including romance scams, fake investments, gambling scams, and law enforcement impersonation. The scammers used AI to work faster and reach more victims, with evidence suggesting some workers may have been trafficked or coerced into participating in these operations from scam compounds in Southeast Asia. The disruption was identified through cooperation with WhatsApp and shared with industry partners and authorities.
plataformamedia.com
· 2026-08-04
Cybercrime losses across 36 African countries more than doubled from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, with artificial intelligence driving over half of incidents including AI-facilitated scams, credential theft, and digital sexual extortion through deepfakes. Scams emerged as the most common cybercrime type, exploiting mobile money platforms and social networks, with 72% of surveyed countries reporting the presence of organized scam centers. Despite fragmented cybercrime legislation and low preparedness among security forces, regional cooperation efforts resulted in over 1,500 arrests and recovery of more than $100 million across four Interpol-coordinated operations in 2
africanews.com
· 2026-08-04
AI is powering over half of cybercrime cases across Africa, with cybercrime-related financial losses surging from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, according to INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026. Online scams remain the most prevalent threat, with criminals using AI-generated deepfakes, synthetic identities, and sophisticated social engineering to target victims across mobile money services and social media platforms. The report identifies 72% of surveyed African countries as hosting scam centers, with West and Southern Africa experiencing the highest concentration of operations.
thecooldown.com
· 2026-08-04
A Cambodia-based scam ring used ChatGPT to conduct a large-scale fraud operation involving fake romantic relationships, cryptocurrency investments, gambling schemes, and police impersonation across WhatsApp and Telegram, with victims reporting losses in the thousands of dollars. The criminals leveraged AI to create convincing fake identities, localized messages, forged documents resembling passports and legal notices, and persuasive promotional content to build trust and manipulate victims into sending money or personal information. OpenAI disrupted the operation by removing associated accounts and sharing threat indicators with authorities, though investigators warn that the underlying criminal infrastructure in Southeast Asia may continue operating despite the tool shutdown.
citizen.co.za
· 2026-08-04
African cybercrime losses more than doubled from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, with AI enabling 55% of reported cybercrimes across the continent. South Africa faces particular exposure due to its advanced digital economy, with criminals using AI-driven credential harvesting, phishing, synthetic identity fraud, and sextortion to target financial institutions, telecoms, and individual victims across mobile money platforms and social media. The report highlights that 72% of surveyed African countries reported the presence of scam centers, with East Africa emerging as a hub for mobile money fraud and ransomware, while Southern Africa is targeted by global threat actors seeking maximum disruption.
itweb.africa
· 2026-08-04
In 2025, AI enabled 55% of cybercrimes across Africa, with reported losses more than doubling from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, according to INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report. AI-powered attacks including phishing, business email compromise, romance scams, and credential harvesting became increasingly difficult to detect as criminals used automation for personalized messaging, executive impersonation, and synthetic identity creation. The report surveyed 36 African countries and found that while four INTERPOL operations recovered over $100 million and made 1,500 arrests, fragmented cybercrime legislation and limited law enforcement readiness ham
businessday.ng
· 2026-08-04
AI is fueling 55% of Africa's cybercrime cases, with cyber-related losses reaching $484 million in 2025, according to INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report. Online scams using AI-generated voices and images are the most common attacks, with 72% of surveyed African countries reporting organized scam centers, while Nigeria alone recorded 5,822 ransomware detections. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting critical national infrastructure and exploiting fintech and cryptocurrency sectors through mobile money fraud, Ponzi schemes, and romance scams.
africa.dailynewsegypt.com
· 2026-08-04
Across Africa, AI is now powering 55% of cybercrimes, with reported losses surging from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, according to INTERPOL's analysis of 36 African member countries. Criminals are using AI-generated content, synthetic identities, and automated social engineering to conduct mobile money fraud, business email compromise scams, romance scams, and sextortion attacks, with approximately 600,000 sextortion detections recorded. East Africa faces particular threats from ransomware targeting critical infrastructure, while 72% of surveyed countries identified scam centers operating within their borders, with fragmented cybercrime legislation and low
gmanetwork.com
· 2026-08-04
The National Bureau of Investigation arrested 20 people (18 Filipinos and 2 foreign supervisors) in Pasay City for operating a "pig butchering" online fraud scheme, where scammers build trust with victims through romantic or friendly relationships before luring them into cryptocurrency investments. The suspects, caught in a condominium raid, will be charged under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and their victims included both Filipino and foreign nationals. One suspect attempted to flee by jumping from the sixth floor into a swimming pool but was still apprehended by agents.
ground.news
· 2026-08-04
The "pig butchering" scam uses fake romantic relationships on social media and dating apps to manipulate victims into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms, with scammers requesting additional fees (taxes, charges) before allowing withdrawals. A Bengaluru man lost lakhs of rupees through this scheme, and authorities in the Philippines arrested 20 individuals allegedly operating similar crypto investment fraud networks targeting victims globally.
africanews.com
· 2026-08-04
AI now powers over 55% of cybercrime cases across Africa, with financial losses surging from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, according to INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026. Online scams remain the most prevalent threat, with criminals using AI-generated content, deepfakes, and synthetic identities to conduct increasingly convincing fraud campaigns targeting mobile money users, businesses, and individuals across the continent. The report found that 72% of surveyed African countries have identified scam centers operating within their borders, with weak coordination between financial institutions and law enforcement hampering detection and prevention efforts.
allafrica.com
· 2026-08-04
Over half of cybercrimes reported across Africa now involve AI-enabled attacks, with financial losses reaching an estimated $484 million and criminals using synthetic identities to bypass security systems and commit fraud across banking, telecommunications, and government sectors. The INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 found that 72 percent of surveyed countries reported organized scam centers, with Kenya experiencing 3.37 billion cyber threat events in early 2026 and facing attacks ranging from phishing to website defacement demanding ransom. International enforcement operations have begun addressing the threat, with Operation Red Card 2.0 resulting in 651 arrests across 16 African countries and recovery of $4.
beninwebtv.com
· 2026-08-04
African cybercriminals are increasingly using accessible AI tools to conduct fraud at scale, with generative AI enabling inexperienced actors to create convincing phishing emails, fake profiles, and deepfakes across multiple languages. According to Interpol, these technologies facilitate investment fraud, romance scams, sexual extortion, and business email compromise attacks, while African law enforcement faces significant challenges including lack of specialized training, cross-border jurisdictional issues, and difficulty distinguishing AI-generated from authentic content. The professionalization and automation of cybercrime networks has expanded the pool of potential attackers and multiplied victimization rates across the continent.
stratford-herald.com
· 2026-08-04
Warwickshire's trading standards team is warning residents about two seasonal scams: doorstep roofers who falsely claim extensive damage and charge double the legitimate rate, and car-selling fraudsters who work in groups to sabotage vehicles during test drives then demand lower prices. The roofers target homeowners with unsolicited claims of loose tiles or rotting wood, while the car scammers tamper with engines and electrical systems to negotiate prices down by thousands of pounds, with particular concern that elderly sellers are being targeted.
guardian.ng
· 2026-08-04
Cyber-related losses across Africa surged to $484 million in 2025, with AI now enabling 55% of reported cybercrimes and making attacks faster and harder to detect, according to INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report. Nigeria emerged as both a major source and target, recording 5,822 ransomware detections while its Bureau of Statistics website was compromised, as online scams exploiting mobile money platforms and AI-generated content became the most frequently reported cybercrime. INTERPOL attributed the surge to fragmented cybercrime legislation, weak AI preparedness among law enforcement, and weak real-time information sharing, though recent coordinated operations resulted in over 1
yahoo.com
· 2026-08-04
Americans lost a record $16 billion to fraud in 2025, a 25% increase from the previous year, with imposter scams being the most reported category, generating $3.5 billion in losses as scammers impersonate police officers, bank employees, and government officials to create urgency and fear. Illinois reported over $535 million in losses from 5,436 internet-crime complaints in Iowa, while Davenport police warn that legitimate law enforcement never demands payment via phone, gift cards, or cryptocurrency and encourage victims to report crimes despite potential embarrassment.
modernghana.com
· 2026-08-04
Prophet Daniel Kusi warns women that men who request money early in relationships are engaging in romance scams, emphasizing that responsible men support women financially rather than depend on them. He advises women to treat monetary requests from new romantic partners as a major red flag indicating the man is not genuinely interested in building a relationship.
jdsupra.com
· 2026-08-03
New York Attorney General Letitia James testified before Congress that cryptocurrency fraud complaints to her office have nearly tripled in three years, driven by scams including "pig butchering," romance schemes, and investment frauds perpetrated largely by anonymous overseas actors. James urged Congress to strengthen cryptocurrency oversight and reject the CLARITY Act, arguing it would preempt state laws and weaken state and local law enforcement's ability to prosecute crypto fraud, and she recommended requiring crypto platforms to comply with anti-money laundering requirements and hold them financially liable for consumer protection failures.
bollywoodshaadis.com
· 2026-08-03
"Job Trafficking" is an upcoming Amazon Prime Video series dramatizing the real crime of pig butchering, where scammers build fake relationships online over weeks or months before stealing victims' savings through fraudulent cryptocurrency and trading schemes. The show depicts both sides of this transnational criminal enterprise: online fraud victims who lose billions annually and trafficked workers in Southeast Asian compounds forced to run scams 10-14 hours daily under threat of violence, told through the story of an Indian youth deceived by a fake job offer.
cinemaexpress.com
· 2026-08-03
Job Trafficking is a forthcoming Prime Video series starring Nimrat Kaur and Roshan Mathew that explores online scams, particularly "pig butchering" schemes where scammers build false relationships with victims over weeks or months before stealing their money. The eight-episode show follows three characters whose lives intersect in a web of online fraud and deception, directed by Prashant Nair and currently in production.
crowdfundinsider.com
· 2026-08-03
The Solana Foundation's chief information security officer warns that artificial intelligence is making cryptocurrency scams increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect, particularly through deepfake-powered social engineering attacks like voice replication and romance scams. He emphasizes that most crypto fraud stems not from blockchain vulnerabilities but from offline weaknesses such as compromised credentials, and that the industry must implement multi-layered security controls including withdrawal delays, transaction limits, and recovery mechanisms to protect users even after they've been deceived. The official stresses that no amount of user education can prevent all fraud given the advancing sophistication of AI-enhanced cons, making secure-by-default system design essential.
thehindu.com
· 2026-08-03
This article is about a fictional television series and is not relevant to elder fraud documentation. It announces an upcoming Prime Video drama called "Job Trafficking" starring Nimrat Kaur and Roshan Mathew that depicts "pig butchering" scams, but it contains no information about actual fraud incidents, victims, or financial losses.
newsbytesapp.com
· 2026-08-03
Amazon Prime Video's upcoming Hindi drama "Job Trafficking" explores pig butchering scams, where online scammers deceive victims with fake job offers and manipulate them for financial gain. The series also highlights how young people are trafficked across borders to operate these fraud schemes. Directed by Prashant Nair and starring Nimrat Kaur and others, the show follows three characters affected by these scams: a scammer, a defrauded housewife, and a CEO caught in the scheme.
saharareporters.com
· 2026-08-03
According to INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026, artificial intelligence is now linked to 55% of reported cybercrimes across Africa, with financial losses more than doubling from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, driven primarily by AI-enabled scams, credential harvesting, and automated social engineering attacks. The report found that online scams targeting mobile money platforms and social media are the most common cybercrime, with 72% of surveyed African countries reporting the presence of scam centers, while criminals are increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic digital identities to bypass biometric systems and commit fraud.
ourquadcities.com
· 2026-08-03
Romance scams affect approximately 1 in 10 people age 50 and over, resulting in billions in losses worldwide annually, according to AARP. Scammers create fake online identities—often posing as celebrities or semi-professional athletes—to build emotional relationships over months before requesting money or financial favors. Key warning signs include requests for financial help, "love bombing" with excessive affection, and pressure from someone claiming to be a legitimate celebrity seeking a romantic connection with an average person.
kwqc.com
· 2026-08-03
The Davenport Police Department is warning residents of rising scams including AI voice scams, romance scams, investment scams, and imposter scams that use emotional pressure and urgency to manipulate victims. Police advise residents to verify information independently and slow down when pressured to act quickly, as scammers exploit emotions to succeed. No specific dollar amounts or individual cases were detailed in the warning.
interpol.int
· 2026-08-03
Artificial intelligence is enabling 55% of cybercrimes across Africa, with cybercrime losses more than doubling from USD 192 million in 2024 to USD 484 million in 2025, according to INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026. AI-facilitated scams, business email compromise schemes, romance scams, and digital sextortion are widespread, with 72% of surveyed African countries reporting the presence of organized scam centers. INTERPOL-coordinated operations in 2025 resulted in over 1,500 arrests and recovered more than USD 100 million, highlighting the need for stronger international cooperation and standardized cyberc
aarp.org
· 2026-08-03
I cannot provide a summary because the content provided is not an article about a scam or fraud. This appears to be a navigation menu/sitemap from AARP's website showing various topic categories and links. There is no actual article text describing any fraudulent scheme, scam, victims, or dollar amounts to summarize.
accountingtoday.com
· 2026-08-03
A study found that AI bots are 2.5 times more effective than human scammers at building trust with romance scam victims, with an AI agent achieving 46% compliance in convincing test subjects to install a suspicious app compared to 18% for human scammers. Researchers recruited 22 educated participants across 12 countries and had them interact with both human and AI partners over seven days, discovering that participants engaged significantly more with the AI, sent more messages to it, and reported higher emotional trust despite some obvious AI mistakes. The findings highlight the automation potential of romance-baiting scams that exploit victims through text conversations before pressuring them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.
gna.org.gh
· 2026-08-03
A pastor in Ghana, Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng, was arrested for defrauding women through romance scams involving false marriage promises, intimate image blackmail, and a fake tire business scheme that collected thousands of dollars. Seven victims have reported the crimes dating back to 2021, and his wife was also charged with threatening victims after intimate images were shared with her. Both were arraigned in court on charges including conspiracy to defraud and non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
interpol.int
· 2026-08-03
AI is fueling 55% of reported cybercrimes across Africa, with cybercrime losses more than doubling from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, driven by AI-facilitated scams, romance fraud, business email compromise, and sextortion targeting both individuals and corporations. The report found that 72% of surveyed African countries reported the presence of scam centers, with attackers using AI to create synthetic identities that bypass biometric verification systems to commit fraud across mobile money platforms and banking services. INTERPOL's coordinated operations in 2025 resulted in over 1,500 arrests and recovered $100 million, highlighting the need for
socialnews.xyz
· 2026-08-03
This article is about a film/TV series project, not an elder fraud case. It describes an upcoming thriller series titled "Job Trafficking" starring Nimrat Kaur that dramatizes pig butchering scams and job trafficking schemes targeting vulnerable people seeking employment. The series, directed by Prashant Nair, aims to raise awareness about sophisticated online fraud operations that deceive victims into participating in scams after building false trust.
martincid.com
· 2026-08-03
Prime Video's Indian arm is developing "Job Trafficking," an eight-episode Hindi-language drama series about the pig-butchering scam, a months-long international fraud that has drained billions from victims worldwide and is operated from fortified compounds using trafficked workers. The series follows three interconnected lives: an imprisoned scammer seeking escape, a defrauded housewife seeking answers, and a corporate CEO caught in the crossfire, treating industrial fraud as a systemic issue affecting people at all levels. Starring Nimrat Kaur, Pavan Malhotra, and Roshan Mathew, the series is created by director Prashant Nair and aims to shift Indian
dnaindia.com
· 2026-08-03
An upcoming streaming series titled "Job Trafficking" starring Nimrat Kaur and Roshan Mathew dramatizes the "pig butchering" scam phenomenon, where fraudsters spend weeks or months building false trust with victims online before stealing their money through fake cryptocurrency or trading platforms. The show follows three characters caught in this criminal enterprise: a trapped scammer, a defrauded housewife, and a CEO, exposing how perpetrators exploit young people lured by fake job offers who are trafficked across borders and forced to become scammers themselves. The series will premiere on Prime Video and highlights one of the world's fastest-growing criminal enterprises linked to organized crime networks.
ianslive.in
· 2026-08-03
This article announces a new Prime Video survival drama series called "Job Trafficking" starring Nimrat Kaur and Roshan Mathew that explores "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters spend weeks or months building false trust with victims online before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency or trading platforms. The series depicts how young people are lured with fake job offers, trafficked across borders, and forced to become scammers themselves, while following three characters whose lives intersect in this criminal enterprise. The show examines one of the world's fastest-growing fraud schemes that authorities have linked to organized crime networks.
theweek.in
· 2026-08-03
Prime Video has begun production on an eight-episode drama series titled "Job Trafficking," directed by Prashanth Nair, that explores the criminal networks behind "pig butchering" financial scams and human trafficking across India and Southeast Asia. The series follows both victims—including job seekers lured by fake overseas employment offers and trafficked across borders—and perpetrators involved in these industrialized online fraud schemes. Starring Roshan Mathew and Nimrat Kaur, the show aims to expose how scammers exploit unsuspecting people's ambitions and hopes.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-03
This article announces a new Prime Video drama series called "Job Trafficking" that explores "pig butchering" scams and the trafficking of young people who are lured by fake job offers and forced to become scammers themselves. The eight-episode Hindi-language series stars Nimrat Kaur, Roshan Mathew, and Pavan Malhotra, and follows three characters whose lives intersect within this criminal enterprise. No specific dollar amounts or victim details are mentioned in this entertainment industry announcement.
deadline.com
· 2026-08-03
Prime Video is producing an eight-episode Hindi-language drama series titled "Job Trafficking" that explores "pig butchering" scams, which involve perpetrators building fake trust with victims online before stealing their money. The series will focus on the lesser-known aspect of these scams: young people lured by fraudulent job offers who are trafficked across borders and forced to become scammers themselves. The show follows three characters—a trapped scammer, a defrauded housewife, and a CEO—whose lives intersect within this criminal enterprise.
kucoin.com
· 2026-08-03
In a single week, Hong Kong police reported 25 romance scam cases involving fake cryptocurrency apps, with losses totaling approximately $9 million, including one insurance agent who lost $3.3 million after being manipulated by a scammer posing as a romantic interest. The scheme, known as "pig butchering," involves fraudsters building fake emotional relationships over weeks or months before introducing victims to counterfeit trading platforms that display fabricated profits and eventually disappear when victims attempt withdrawals. These scams, often run from Southeast Asian compounds by trafficked workers, exploit victims globally with increasingly sophisticated fake apps that mimic legitimate exchanges, exposing a critical gap in consumer education within the cryptocurrency industry.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2026-08-03
Hong Kong police reported 25 romance-linked investment fraud cases in a single week (July 24-30) totaling approximately $9 million in losses, with one insurance agent losing $3.3 million to a fake cryptocurrency trading app. Scammers build emotional relationships with victims through dating apps over weeks or months, then introduce a counterfeit investment platform that displays fabricated profits to encourage larger deposits before disappearing with the funds. The scam, known as "pig butchering," has become Hong Kong's largest category of reported financial losses and highlights gaps in consumer education about identifying fraudulent platforms that mimic legitimate crypto exchanges.
usatoday.com
· 2026-08-03
OnlyFans creators are being targeted by scammers using AI-generated deepfakes of their images and voices to impersonate them on social media, with fraudsters tricking fans into sending money via CashApp for fake "exclusive content" before blocking them. The scams have escalated with improved AI technology, causing financial losses to creators' income and creating safety concerns, as some fans have shown up at creators' homes after being misled by imposters. According to reports, deepfake fraud attempts occurred at a rate of roughly one every 5 minutes in 2024, disproportionately affecting women who comprise 90% of victims of non-consensual intimate imagery distribution.
crimewatch.net
· 2026-08-03
The East Lansdowne Police Department issued a warning alert about common scams targeting senior citizens, including phantom hacker scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation schemes, tech support fraud, lottery scams, and romance scams. The department emphasized that legitimate organizations never demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment apps, and advised seniors to hang up on suspicious callers, protect personal information, and report suspected scams to local law enforcement.
interpol.int
· 2026-08-03
Cybercriminals in Africa are using AI to conduct 55% of reported cybercrimes, with losses more than doubling from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, according to INTERPOL's 2026 African Cyberthreat Assessment Report based on data from 36 African member countries. Online scams, business email compromise, romance scams, and digital sextortion—facilitated by AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic identities—are proliferating across the continent, with 72% of surveyed countries reporting the presence of scam centers. Despite these challenges, coordinated international operations led to over 1,500 arrests