Africa’s rapid digital growth is creating new opportunities for cybercriminals, with artificial intelligence making attacks easier to scale and harder to detect. More than 55% of reported cybercrime across the continent is now linked to AI, according to INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026.
The report notes that Africa had more than 1.1 billion mobile subscribers in 2025. However, fragmented cybercrime laws and limited AI readiness among law enforcement agencies are making the threat harder to address.
Based on survey data from 36 African member countries, the 40-page assessment describes how cybercrime has developed into an organised, cross-border ecosystem.
East Africa has emerged as a centre for mobile money fraud and ransomware targeting critical infrastructure. Business email compromise (BEC) and romance scams are widespread in Central and West Africa, while Southern Africa’s high connectivity attracts global threat actors seeking large-scale disruption.
Cybercrime losses more than double
Financial losses linked to cybercrime have more than doubled since 2024, rising from USD 192 million to USD 484 million. AI-powered scams, credential theft and automated social engineering are among the key drivers.
Online scams remained the most reported cybercrime in 2025, with criminals exploiting mobile money services, social media and AI. Around 72% of surveyed countries reported scam centres, with the highest concentration in Southern and West Africa.
AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic media are also fuelling sextortion and online harassment. TrendAI, an INTERPOL partner, recorded approximately 600,000 sextortion detections.
BEC attacks have also become more convincing through AI-generated emails. Africa-based threat actors have targeted victims in Europe and North America using infrastructure spread across multiple jurisdictions.
The report warns that poor real-time information sharing between banks, telecom operators and law enforcement creates gaps that criminals exploit. They are increasingly using synthetic identities that combine real personal information with fabricated details to bypass biometric checks, open bank accounts, obtain mobile loans and register SIM cards.
Cross-border action and recommendations
In 2025, 17 countries introduced or amended cybercrime laws. Senegal also launched an online reporting platform to address violations affecting children.
4 INTERPOL-coordinated operations — Serengeti 2.0, Contender 3.0, Sentinel and Red Card 2.0 — resulted in more than 1,500 arrests, hundreds of devices seized and over USD 100 million recovered.
The report calls for stronger digital forensics, cross-border cooperation, AI training for law enforcement and formal public-private partnerships to improve cybercrime prevention, detection and response.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream LinkedIn | The Mainstream Facebook | The Mainstream Youtube | The Mainstream Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream is a premier platform delivering the latest updates and informed perspectives across the technology business and cyber landscape. Built on research-driven, thought leadership and original intellectual property, The Mainstream also curates summits & conferences that convene decision makers to explore how technology reshapes industries and leadership. With a growing presence in India and globally across the Middle East, Africa, ASEAN, the USA, the UK and Australia, The Mainstream carries a vision to bring the latest happenings and insights to 8.2 billion people and to place technology at the centre of conversation for leaders navigating the future.