Interpol and Afripol recently carried out “Operation Serengeti” a major international operation, cracking down on cybercrime throughout 19 African countries, arresting 1,006 and disrupting 134,089 malicious networks and infrastructures. The two agencies recovered USD 43,954,537, and more than 20 Kenyans were arrested in the two-month sting operation. The arrested Kenyans were involved in online credit card fraud.
“Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together, and these arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from personal and financial pain,” said Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL.
About Operation Serengeti
The operation ran from September to October 2024, cracking down on various cybercrimes like business email compromise (BEC), ransomware, online scams, and digital extortion. The law agencies found 35,000 victims and cases linked to worldwide financial losses worth USD 193 million.
The joint effort led to the disruption of cybercriminal activities and improved the efforts of law enforcement agencies in African Union member nations.
Key events in Sting Operation
The arrested Kenyans were involved in online credit card fraud and responsible for global banking systems losing US$8.6 million.
The stolen money was sent via SWIFT to digital asset firms to countries Nigeria, China, and the UAE.
The joint operation also resulted in the arrest of digital scammers in other countries Cameroon, Angola, Senegal, and Nigeria.
“Through Serengeti, AFRIPOL has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States. We have facilitated key arrests and deepened insights into cybercrime trends. Our focus now includes emerging threats like AI-driven malware and advanced attack techniques,” Jalela Chelba, AFRIPOL’s Executive Director said.
Rise of financial fraud in Kenya
TransUnion report analysis reveals Kenya is 10th in Digital Fraud suspects out of 19 countries in the first half of 2024. In the case of digital transactions carried out in Kenya, around 4.6% were traced as suspected Digital Fraud.
Credit card fraud is the leading problem in the financial sector, scammers steal the card info of victims and access their accounts. They do this via application fraud and account takeovers.
