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Tax Fraud
advance payment scams and money laundering Black Axe Gang Credit Card Fraud Cyber Crime cybercrime gang Email Scams Financial Fraud inheritance scams Interpol Tax Fraud

Operation Jackal: INTERPOL Shuts Down African Cybercrime Gang


A recent operation by INTERPOL on the West African cybercrime organization led to several bank accounts being frozen, with suspects detained and a series of financial investigations organized worldwide. 

Operation Jackal, conducted between May 15 and 29, apparently mobilized police forces, financial crime units and cybercrime agencies across 21 countries in order to launch a targeted strike on Black Axe and related West African organized criminal gangs.

As of now, more than 200 illicit bank accounts that were linked to online financial crime have been blocked, with several associated suspects arrested whose networks in cybercrime pose a severe threat to international security. 

“Organized crime is mostly driven by financial gain and INTERPOL is committed to working with our member countries to deprive these groups of their ill-gotten assets. This successful operation involving so many countries clearly shows what can be achieved through international cooperation, and will serve as a blueprint for concerted police action against financial crime in the future,” says Isaac Kehinde Oginni, Director of INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC). “It also sends a strong message to West African crime networks that no matter where they hide in cyberspace, INTERPOL will pursue them relentlessly. The illegal activities of Black Axe and similar crimes syndicates will remain a priority for INTERPOL.”

In Portugal alone, four such investigations led to the accumulated seizure and recovery of around 1.4 EUR million.

A total of 34 suspects have been arrested in the Irish phase of the operation. Amongst these arrests, 12 were detained for investigative purposes and 22 on suspicion of money laundering and gangland-style offences. 

According to Deputy Head of the National Central Bureau of Dublin, Tony Kelly, ‘It became apparent early in the investigation that international cooperation and the use of INTERPOL’s analytical and coordination capabilities was essential to the investigation, and remains a pivotal element to the success to date and the ongoing investigation into this group.”

More such investigations have been witnessed across the world as intelligence agencies are putting efforts into investigating the issue.

Black Axe and other West African organized cybercrime syndicates are popular malicious gangs known for cyber-enabled criminal offences like financial fraud, mostly done by compromising company’s email systems, romance scams, inheritance scams, credit card fraud, tax fraud, advance payment scams and money laundering. 

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Threat Group
Black Axe Gang Cyber Crime Interpol Interpol Operation South Africa Threat Group

Cybercrime Gangs Are Expanding Across Africa: Investigators Warns


Police and investigative experts of the sub-Saharan region of Africa have cautioned of cyber criminal gangs, that are recently advancing in size and power by exploiting the vulnerabilities caused during the global economic crises and the Covid-19 pandemic. 

As claimed by the authorities, both of the mentioned situations have given rise to newer opportunities for online criminals to rake in large assets without risking being caught. 

This growth has a direct impact on the rest of the world, where many victims of “hugely lucrative” fraud live, a senior police official says. 

According to Prof. Landry Signé, a senior scholar and study author at Brookings Institution, the Covid-19 crisis has apparently resulted in the growth of digitalization globally. As online activities boosted, criminals, targeted critical digital infrastructure. 

“The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated digitalization around the world, but as life has shifted increasingly online, cybercriminals have exploited the opportunity to attack vital digital infrastructure […] States across Africa have emerged as a favorite target of cybercriminals, with costly consequences,” says Professor Signé. 

Nigerian Black Axe Gang

Interpol describes online frauds like banking and credit card frauds as the most pervasive and severe cyber threat across Africa. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a sustained rise in the number and advancement of cyber-attacks, with more than half being targeted at online banking platforms, as per the analysts.

A major operation organized by Interpol this month, across 14 countries, emphasises the scale of cybercrimes across the continent and beyond. 

Police later detained more than 70 alleged fraudsters in connection with the Nigerian cyber threat group known as ‘Black Axe’ in South Africa, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast, as well as in the Middle East, Europe, south-east Asia, and the US. 

Moreover, about 50 residents were being investigated, with $1 million confiscated from bank accounts. Additionally, an apartment building, three vehicles, tens of thousands of dollars, and about 12,000 sim cards were seized. 

Reportedly the Black Axe gang started out as a student organization, originating in Benin City, in the 1970s and later evolved into a worldwide criminal network, specializing in frauds. As per the US court filings, the group later claimed a regional headquarters in South Africa in the year 2013. 

Authorities reportedly discovered phones and other equipment that were known to be used by Black Axe scammers, in Ireland. While tracing the group’s vocabulary, the investigators linked the group to West Africa. 

A former South African criminal intelligence official says that although the fraudulent activities have comparatively reduced, one cannot assume that the organization has ceased operations. The official continued that these criminals manage their operations very well, and they have found solutions to all the issues. 

A Major Base for Organized Crimes

As reported by The Guardian, South Africa has emerged as a headquarter for organized crimes. 

South Africa apparently hosts the Black Axe organization, while also helping them proliferate worldwide. In this regard, Interpol further said, “as well as hosting Black Axe groups, South Africa also helps enable their spread to other parts of the world … Black Axe members come to South Africa to obtain South African citizenship, which facilitates their travel to the US, Europe or Dubai.” 

Along with other acts of cyber fraud, threat actors in Africa generally targets victims via online dating services and apps, deceiving them into false relationships in order to acquire money or sensitive information about the victims. 

Not only South Africa, Kenya as well has evolved into a significant base for digital extortion schemes, believes the FBI and Interpol. Thus, making the continent a major base for cybercrime activities.  

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