Online scam networks under siege as INTERPOL operation identifies 263 individuals
An international operation targeting West African organised crime groups has led to 58 arrests and the identification of 263 persons of interest linked to online scams, money laundering and other crimes. Operation Jackal IV, coordinated by INTERPOL between November 2025 and June 2026, brought together 22 countries across six continents to disrupt criminal networks and […]
Operation Jackal IV, an international effort coordinated by INTERPOL, has resulted in 58 arrests and the identification of 263 persons of interest suspected of involvement in various criminal activities, including online scams, money laundering and other crimes. Spanning 22 countries across six continents, the operation ran from November 2025 to June 2026.
Among the groups targeted were Black Axe, known for their role in a significant portion of cyber-enabled financial fraud globally. These criminal networks employ tactics such as romance scams, cryptocurrency and investment scams, as well as business email compromise, to defraud victims while also engaging in other violent and serious crimes.
Tomonobu Kaya, Director of the INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, highlighted the significance of international cooperation in combating organised crime, stating that Operation Jackal IV demonstrated the importance of such cooperation in disrupting criminal networks' ability to profit from their activities. South Africa recorded the highest number of arrests, with 39 people detained following raids in Johannesburg on seven locations associated with romance and investment scams.
Authorities seized $2.67 million and blocked 257 bank accounts. In Argentina, an INTERPOL team collaborated with local investigators to identify 196 people linked to a network providing website domains and money laundering services to West African criminal organisations, resulting in 17 arrests. Romanian authorities dismantled an investment scam network operating through a call centre, leading to the seizure of €330,000 in cash and cryptocurrency, six properties and several luxury watches.
Italy also saw the identification of a person connected to a pan-European money laundering network using shell companies and remittance services to conceal criminal proceeds, with one account processing €845,000 through 560 transactions. The operation also exposed an increase in sextortion targeting minors, with some victims as young as 14.
Organised crime groups were reportedly using Crime-as-a-Service providers on the dark web to outsource activities such as money laundering. The investigation into Operation Jackal IV remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to pursue additional individuals and analyse the information gathered during the eight-month operation.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
