Interpol has detained 27 people in Kenya suspected of running elaborate online investment scams that promised high returns in global companies but never delivered.
The arrests are part of a coordinated effort across 16 African nations to dismantle the networks behind high-yield investment schemes, mobile money fraud, and fraudulent mobile loan platforms.
In Kenya, the suspects reportedly used social media, messaging apps, and fake testimonials to convince victims to invest.
Interpol said, “Scammers solicited small initial investments‒ as low as $50(Sh6,451) ‒ with claims of lucrative returns. Victims were shown fabricated account statements or dashboards, but withdrawal requests were systematically blocked.”
The operation, which ran from December 8, 2025, to January 30, 2026, revealed fraud schemes linked to more than $45 million (Sh5.8 billion) in financial losses.
Investigators identified 1,247 victims, mostly from Africa, although some were from other regions of the world. Authorities also seized 2,341 electronic devices and dismantled 1,442 IP addresses, domains, servers, and other tools used to carry out the scams.
Interpol’s crackdown extended beyond Kenya. In Nigeria, police took down a high-yield investment fraud ring that recruited young individuals to commit cyber-enabled crimes through phishing, identity theft, social engineering, and fake digital asset platforms.
“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,” Interpol said.
In Côte d’Ivoire, law enforcement arrested 58 people and confiscated 240 mobile phones, 25 laptops, and over 300 SIM cards in operations targeting fraudulent mobile loans.
Neal Jetton, Interpol’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, said, “These organised cybercriminal syndicates inflict devastating financial and psychological harm on individuals, businesses, and entire communities with their false promises.”
Interpol noted that the operation underscores the growing threat of cross-border online fraud and the importance of international cooperation in stopping criminal networks.
Officials say the coordinated action will disrupt operations of organised cybercrime syndicates and provide stronger protection for the public from financial scams.
