AI enables over half of cybercrime in Africa – Interpol

Interpol has reported that artificial intelligence is behind 55% of all cybercrimes reported across Africa, making attacks quicker and harder to detect. The INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 reveals how cybercriminality has evolved from isolated incidents into a global, borderless industry. The 40-page report is based on data from 36 African member countries, which recorded over 1.1 billion mobile subscribers in 2025.

Cybercrime losses have increased from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million, primarily due to AI-assisted scams, credential theft, and automated phishing. Criminals are targeting victims in Europe and North America using infrastructure in various jurisdictions. East Africa is noted as a hub for mobile money fraud and ransomware targeting infrastructure.

Business email compromises and romance scams are common in Central and West Africa, while Southern Africa's high connectivity makes it attractive for fraudsters aiming to cause maximum disruption. Southern and West Africa have the most scam centers, with online schemes being the most reported cybercrime type in 2025. Attackers use AI, social media, and mobile money platforms to create fake digital identities that can bypass biometric verification systems, open bank accounts, get mobile loans, and register SIM cards under false names.

The report also highlights that African cybercrime legislation is fragmented and the law enforcement agencies' AI readiness is "alarmingly low" despite the growing digital transformation. There is a lack of real-time data sharing between banks, telecom companies, and law enforcement, which creates a gap in combating financial fraud.

INTERPOL's Neal Jetton, Director of the Cybercrime Unit, said AI automates stages of cyberattacks, including reconnaissance, phishing, extortion, and evasion, making cybercrime a significant threat to Africa. Jetton emphasized that when countries collaborate, cybercriminal infrastructure can be identified, disrupted, and dismantled.

The report suggests improving cross-border cooperation, digital forensic capabilities, AI literacy among law enforcement, and public-private partnerships for cybercrime prevention, detection, and response. In the last year, INTERPOL's four cybercrime operations—Serengeti 2.0, Contender 3.0, Sentinel, and Red Card 2.0—resulted in 1,500 arrests, seized hundreds of devices, and recovered over $100 million.