INTERPOL report finds AI linked to more than half of cybercrime in Africa
Artificial intelligence is enabling 55 per cent of reported cybercrimes across Africa, making attacks faster, more scalable, and increasingly difficult for victims and platforms to detect, according to INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026. With more than 1.1 billion mobile subscribers recorded in 2025, Africa’s digital transformation is expanding rapidly. However, cybercrime…
INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 reveals that artificial intelligence is implicated in 55% of reported cybercrimes across Africa. As mobile subscriptions exceed 1.1 billion in 2025, Africa's digital landscape is rapidly evolving. However, fragmented legislation and low AI readiness among law enforcement hinder effective response.
Cybercrime has transitioned from isolated incidents to industrialized, borderless operations. East Africa has become a hotspot for mobile money fraud and ransomware targeting infrastructure. Central and West Africa see a surge in business email compromises and romance scams, while Southern Africa attracts global threat actors seeking maximum disruption.
The economic impact of cybercrime has more than doubled since 2024, reaching USD 484 million due to AI-facilitated scams, credential theft, and automated social engineering campaigns. Online scams remain the most prevalent, with attackers exploiting mobile money, social media, and AI platforms. Notably, 72% of surveyed countries reported scam centers, primarily in Southern and West Africa.
AI-enabled threats include digital sextortion, online harassment facilitated by deepfakes and synthetic media, and sophisticated Business E-Mail Compromise (BEC) schemes. AI-generated digital personas with fake biometric data are being used to create new identities, bypass authentication systems, and open bank accounts. Neal Jetton, INTERPOL's Cybercrime unit director, emphasizes the importance of coordinated efforts, noting that AI automates every stage of cyberattacks.
While 17 countries updated cybercrime laws in 2025, including Senegal's online reporting platform for child protection, transnational cooperation remains crucial. INTERPOL's recommendations call for standardized forensic capabilities, enhanced cross-border collaboration, AI literacy for law enforcement, and public-private partnerships to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats.
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