ACCRA, Ghana – Interpol has arrested 260 suspects across 14 African countries in a sweeping crackdown on online romance scams and sextortion networks that stole over $2.8 million from victims worldwide.
The operation, supported by the FBI and national police forces, exposed how cybercrime groups in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa have turned digital love scams into industrial-scale fraud enterprises.
Fraudsters create fake online identities on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and dating apps using stolen photos and fabricated backstories. Victims are groomed over weeks with promises of love, before being manipulated into sending money for fake emergencies such as medical bills, stranded flights, or visas.
In sextortion cases, criminals coerce victims into sharing intimate photos and then demand payment to prevent public exposure.
“They broke hearts and bank accounts at the same time,” said one victim advocate in Accra.
Several arrests in Ghana revealed organized “clusters” of scammers who tracked victims in spreadsheets, ran scripted conversations, and laundered money through mobile money wallets, bank transfers, and cryptocurrency.
Interpol’s Secretary General Jürgen Stock described the arrests as “a strike against criminals who prey on heartbreak and loneliness.”
Once victims send money, the funds move through mules, crypto mixers, and shell companies before disappearing into luxury goods or foreign accounts. Investigators say these networks operate like businesses, complete with recruiters, managers, and international laundering pipelines.
The crackdown highlights the growing cost of cybercrime in Africa. Beyond financial losses, victims suffer from shame, depression, and broken trust. Experts warn that unless platforms strengthen identity checks and banks tighten anti-money laundering controls, scams will continue to spread.
“If someone you meet online asks for money, stop, think, and check,” Interpol advised.
Authorities confirm that seized laptops and phones will lead to more arrests in the coming weeks. Cybercrime experts say the fight against romance scams has only just begun, as scammers adopt AI tools, deepfakes, and encrypted apps to stay ahead of law enforcement.
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