INTERPOL identifies ransomware, AI-powered scams among Africa’s biggest cyber threats
Ransomware attacks, business email compromise (BEC), organised online scams and artificial intelligence-driven cybercrime have emerged as some of the most serious digital security threats confronting Africa, according to the latest cyber threat assessment released by INTERPOL.
The INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 has identified several major cyber threats facing Africa. Ransomware attacks, business email compromise (BEC), and AI-driven cybercrime are among the most serious digital security concerns. South Africa saw 92% of all ransomware detections in 2025, while BEC incidents originated from 70% of detected cases in South Africa and 29% in Nigeria.
AI technology is being used to create convincing emails for financial fraud, as shown by a Senegal-based operation attempting to divert $7.9 million from a petroleum company. Online fraud has expanded into large-scale operations run by organized crime, human trafficking, and forced labor, with 72% of African countries reporting such centers.
Mobile money fraud is the most common online scam, affecting 97% of responding countries. AI is also being used for digital sextortion, with deepfake technology generating fake intimate images from social media photos to demand payment. Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Mali have seen a rise in such cases involving young people. Data breaches contribute to various cyber offenses, with African data appearing on dark web marketplaces increasing by 62%, frequently reused in identity theft, phishing, financial fraud, and ransomware attacks.
AI accelerates cybercrime by automating phishing campaigns, creating realistic deepfakes, developing synthetic identities, and creating sophisticated malware. Cybercrime-as-a-Service platforms make advanced tools accessible to less experienced offenders. The report concludes that Africa's cyber threat landscape is increasingly interconnected, with ransomware, financial fraud, data breaches, AI-enabled scams, and organized criminal networks reinforcing each other.
The agency calls for stronger regional collaboration, harmonized cybercrime legislation, better digital forensic capabilities, and increased investment in cybersecurity to enhance the continent's resilience against emerging threats.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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