Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Captives may be released as early as Saturday and by Monday at the latest: Source briefed on the details of the agreement.
Netanyahu set to convene security cabinet at 1500 (1200GMT) and government at 1600 (1300GMT) to approve the deal: Source briefed on the details of the agreement
Within the first 24 hours, the Israeli military will complete the first phase of partial withdrawal: Source briefed on the details of the agreement
Israeli military says it has begun operational preparations for the implementation of the Gaza agreement
Israeli media: The ceasefire will take effect today at 12 noon
Israeli media: Israeli military divisions have been ordered to prepare for a complete withdrawal or repositioning to the rear in the near future
Canada welcomes "Israel" and Hamas's agreement to implement the first phase of Trump's plan to end the war.
Al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: The presence of resistance leaders at the negotiations and the signing of the agreement, after "Israel" attempted to assassinate them in Qatar, is a humiliation for the occupation.
Al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: The agreement will be signed in the presence of Resistance leaders, led by Hamas, with senior official Khalil al-Hayya set to sign the agreement.
Trump to Fox News: I believe Iran is going to be involved in the peace situation.

Online fraud increases in West Africa, may be potential global threat

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Guardian
  • 28 Nov 2022 16:28
6 Min Read

Banking and credit card fraud has been labeled by Interpol as the most common and urgent cyber threat in Africa.

  • x
  • The Interpol and FBI in front of one of the residences during the operation (Interpol)
    The Interpol and FBI in front of one of the residences during the operation (Interpol)

The expansion of organized gangs of cybercrime has shown cause for grave concern among police and investigators across sub-Saharan Africa - as it brings new ways to make fast money after the pandemic and the current global economic crisis with little risk of being caught.

The risks will not be contained in Africa but will potentially spread to the rest of the world, posing a further threat to victims of “hugely lucrative” fraud, as stated by senior police officials.

Professor Landry Signé, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of a report on the problem explained the situation as follows: “The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated digitalization around the world, but as life has shifted increasingly online, cybercriminals have exploited the opportunity to attack vital digital infrastructure,” adding: “States across Africa have emerged as a favorite target of cybercriminals, with costly consequences.”

Banking and credit card fraud has been labeled by Interpol as the most common and urgent cyber threat in Africa, which the pandemic has exacerbated by much as twice as other fraud online banking platforms.

One operation led to the seizure of close to $1 million in bank accounts

Earlier this month, a major operation carried out by Interpol in 14 countries highlighted the extent of the threat from cybercrime after they arrested more than 70 alleged frauds connected to a Nigerian criminal network known as Black Axe not only in South Africa, Nigeria and Ivory Coast but in Europe and the US as well. 

The operation included a search of almost 50 properties, which led to the seizure of close to $1 million in bank accounts, alongside a residential property, three cars, 12,000 sim cards, and tens of thousands in cash. The success in arrests was facilitated through new improvements to coordination and communication between banks and local police forces. 

In light of that, Rory Corcoran, the acting head of Interpol’s new Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, stated: “It is way wider and broader than these 14 countries. We are dealing with a highly organized international network. These guys are not opportunists … We’re mapping them out around the world,"

Related News

Africa leads world tourism growth in early 2025, UN reports

16 dead, 400 wounded in Kenya violent protests

Read next: Hungary catches Israeli-led money laundering ring red-handed

It started out as a student movement

The Black Axe gang started out as a student movement in Benin City in the 1970s and has evolved into a global criminal network of fraud. As reported by The Guardian, according to US legal documents, a regional hub located in South Africa was reported to be officially recognized by the Black Axe back in 2013. 

Interpol was able to catch the perpetrators last month as the operation took off in Ireland after local police took hold of phones and devices belonging to frauds linked to Black Axe, and investigators recognized vocabulary pertaining to the group, thus linking tracks back to west Africa.

A former South African criminal intelligence official said: “There may be a decrease in activity for a time, but does the organization stop? Not really. They run these things really effectively and there are workarounds. You get a lot of publicity for law enforcement but really it’s little more than a speed bump for the criminals,”

Frauds use the money to invest in other crimes such as forcing African women into sex work in Europe, weapon trade, or running methamphetamine rings. With the return of air travel, the UAE has been a frequent destination for west African fraudsters and Dubai was a favorite for Ramon Abbas, a Nigerian living a luxe life run by his efforts to launder millions of stolen money.

Under the name of Ray Hushpuppi, he had more than 2 million Instagram followers before his arrest in 2020 in Dubai, as his social media flaunted his private jets, expensive cars, high-end clothes, and $200,000 watches.

Abbas was sentenced in California this month to more than 11 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitution.

Kenya another hub

The FBI and Interpol believe that Kenya could be another breeding ground for this type of organized crime, as Interpol said in a statement this month: “As well as hosting Black Axe groups, South Africa also helps enable their spread to other parts of the world … Black Axe members come to South Africa to obtain South African citizenship, which facilitates their travel to the US, Europe or Dubai,”

Cybersecurity is being bypassed through the use of online dating sites to lure victims into fake relationships and steal personal information and money. Mark Shaw, the director of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, expressed: “There’s been a significant growth in skills in the sector, with hacking and similar activities but also romance fraud. There’s an accumulation of experience about what to do and who to target,” 

One incident goes back to cracking down on a major romance fraud in October 2021, when seven members of Black Axe were arrested in Cape Town by the FBI, Interpol, and South African police. The men were charged with stealing $4 million from about 100 US victims over ten years. 

Gareth Newham, the head of justice and violence prevention at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, explained that weak economies and poverty are not the only reasons behind the crimes: "The South African police force is very well resourced but there has been a massive deterioration in capability. This has been more about very poor political leadership than any lack of funding,” 

  • Kenya
  • West Africa
  • Interpol
  • Africa
  • South Africa
  • US
  • Cybersecurity
  • Banking sector
  • FBI

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli armored vehicle moves on a street of a local market during a military raid in the West Bank refugee camp of Balata, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli settlers kill Palestinian youth near Ramallah amid raids

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran interested in resuming nuclear talks: Lavrov

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during a news conference at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, April 25, 2025 (AP)
Politics

IMF head flags US budget, Europe Defense spending challenges

Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at UN headquarters (AP)
Politics

Meloni faces ICC complaint over Gaza genocide complicity with Israelis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS