Interpol nabs 651 Yahoo boys, recovers $4.3 million in weeks-long operations across Nigeria, other African countries
After an eight-week intensive international cybercrime operation against online scams, the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) on Wednesday announced that it arrested 651 and recovered $4.3 million in Nigeria and other African countries
The INTERPOL in a statement on Wednesday said in collaboration with law enforcement partners in 16 African countries, it “made 651 arrests and recovered more than $4.3 million in an international cybercrime operation against online scams.”
“Operation Red Card 2.0” cordinated by INTERPOL and its partners across Africa from December 8, 2025, to 30 January 2026, targeted the infrastructure and actors behind high-yield investment scams, mobile money fraud and fraudulent mobile loan applications.
“During the eight-week operations, investigations exposed scams linked to over USD 45 million in financial losses and identified 1,247 victims, predominantly from the African continent but also from other regions of the world,” INTERPOL said.
According to INTERPOL, in Nigeria, Africa most populous country, police dismantled a high-yield investment fraud ring that recruited young individuals to carry out cyber-enabled crimes using phishing, identity theft, social engineering and fake digital asset investment schemes.
It added, “Over 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts were taken down and investigators uncovered a residential property constructed by the syndicate ringleader to serve as the operational hub for the criminal activities.”
While authorities made 27 arrests linked to fraud schemes that used messaging apps, social media and fictitious testimonials to lure victims into making fake investments in reputable global corporations in Kenya, 58 arrests were made in Côte d’Ivoire with 240 mobile phones, 25 laptops and over 300 SIM cards in a targeted operation against mobile loan fraud seized.
Other countries partnering with the INTERPOL in operations against cybercrime include Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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