The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has reported detaining 27 Kenyans associated with extensive online fraud operations as part of a significant cybercrime initiative spanning multiple African nations.
The apprehensions occurred in connection with various offenses including mobile money fraud and fraudulent digital loan applications during an operation conducted from December 8, 2025, to January 30, 2026.
INTERPOL investigators revealed that criminal networks exploited messaging applications, social media platforms, and fabricated testimonials to entice individuals into counterfeit investment schemes.
Reportedly, victims were convinced to submit minimal deposits, occasionally as little as Ksh6400 ($50), after assurances of exceptionally high returns.
INTERPOL revealed that the perpetrators presented the fraud as legitimate by displaying counterfeit account dashboards and statements that simulated increasing profits.
“Victims were presented with counterfeit account statements or dashboards, but withdrawal attempts were consistently denied,” stated Neal Jetton, Director of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate.
INTERPOL indicated that the Kenyan incidents were components of a broader cross-border fraud network resulting in financial damages exceeding Ksh5.8 billion and impacting over 1,200 individuals, predominantly African.
“Throughout the eight-week initiative, investigations uncovered fraudulent activities connected to more than $45 million in financial losses and identified 1,247 victims, mostly from Africa but also from other global regions,” INTERPOL disclosed.
Collectively, law enforcement authorities from 16 African nations, including Kenya, executed 651 arrests during the operation and retrieved over Ksh580 million in misappropriated funds.
Additionally, authorities disabled more than 1,400 malicious servers, domains, and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.
During his address, Neal Jetton cautioned that organized cybercrime groups continue to inflict substantial financial and psychological damage on individuals and communities not only in Africa but worldwide.
“These organized cybercrime syndicates impose catastrophic financial and psychological suffering on individuals, businesses, and entire communities through their deceptive assurances,” Jetton stated.
He further urged online fraud victims to report incidents to law enforcement authorities, highlighting that international cooperation continues to be effective in dismantling cybercrime networks.