Ghanaian authorities, in a coordinated international operation, have dismantled a transnational cyber-fraud syndicate that allegedly defrauded more than 200 victims of over $400,000.
The network, operating between Ghana and Nigeria, was uncovered during Operation Sentinel, a continent-wide crackdown led by INTERPOL targeting business email compromise, digital extortion, and ransomware.
Investigators say the criminals used professionally designed websites and mobile apps to impersonate popular fast-food brands. Unknowing customers would place orders and make payments through these platforms, but no food was ever delivered.
The scheme exploited consumer trust in familiar names to conduct fraud across borders, complicating detection efforts.
Operation Results
- 10 suspects arrested in Ghana.
- 100+ digital devices seized in coordinated raids.
- 30 fraudulent servers taken down.
- 574 total arrests made across Africa during the wider operation.
- 6,000+ malicious links disabled.
- 6 ransomware variants decrypted.
The takedown comes as INTERPOL reports rising cybercrime threats in Africa. Their 2025 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment identified the methods used by this network as growing risks. Two-thirds of surveyed African countries now classify cybercrime as a medium-to-high proportion of all criminal activity.
“The scale and sophistication of cyberattacks across Africa are accelerating,” said Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime.
“Operation Sentinel reflects the commitment of African law enforcement agencies, working with international partners. Their actions have successfully protected livelihoods, secured personal data, and preserved critical infrastructure.”
Private sector partnerships were critical in tracing IP addresses, disrupting criminal infrastructure, and helping freeze illicit assets. Operation Sentinel was conducted under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime, with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the European Union, and the Council of Europe.
The operation highlights the increasing reliance on cross-border collaboration to combat cyber-enabled crime, which often exploits the digital divide between detection and enforcement jurisdictions.