INTERPOL has warned that artificial intelligence is accelerating cybercrime across Africa, with AI now enabling 55 per cent of all reported cybercrimes and driving financial losses to an estimated USD 484 million since 2024 as attackers exploit increasingly sophisticated digital tools.
In its African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026, the international policing agency says Africa's rapid digital transformation, marked by more than 1.1 billion mobile subscribers in 2025, is creating new opportunities for innovation while exposing governments, businesses and individuals to a growing wave of cyber threats.
The 40-page report, based on survey responses from 36 African member countries, says cybercrime has evolved from isolated incidents into "an industrialized, borderless ecosystem" powered by artificial intelligence, automation and cross-border criminal networks.
According to the report, East Africa has emerged as a major hotspot for mobile money fraud and ransomware attacks targeting critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, business email compromise and romance scams remain widespread across Central and West Africa, while Southern Africa's high internet connectivity has made it an attractive target for global cybercriminal groups.
INTERPOL says the economic impact of cybercrime continues to rise sharply, with losses increasing from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million, largely driven by AI-enabled scams, credential theft and automated social engineering attacks.
The report notes that online scams remain the most commonly reported cybercrime across the continent, with criminals increasingly exploiting mobile money platforms, social media and artificial intelligence to deceive victims.
It also reveals that 72 per cent of surveyed countries reported the existence of scam centres, particularly in Southern and West Africa.
Among the fastest-growing threats are AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic media, which are fueling digital sextortion and online harassment. INTERPOL cites data from partner TrendAI showing that about 600,000 sextortion incidents were detected during the reporting period.
The report further warns that criminals are using AI to create highly convincing business email compromise schemes and synthetic digital identities capable of bypassing advanced biometric verification systems. These fake identities are reportedly being used to open bank accounts, obtain mobile loans and register SIM cards under false names.
INTERPOL Cybercrime Director Neal Jetton said cybercrime is becoming one of Africa's most significant security threats.
"Cybercrime has emerged as one of the most significant criminal threats to the region. AI is automating every stage of a cyberattack from reconnaissance and phishing to extortion and evasion," he said.
Jetton, however, said coordinated international action is proving effective.
"When countries work together, cybercriminal infrastructure can be identified, disrupted and dismantled."
The report highlights progress made through four major INTERPOL-led operations—Operation Serengeti 2.0, Operation Contender 3.0, Operation Sentinel and Operation Red Card 2.0—which resulted in more than 1,500 arrests, the seizure of hundreds of electronic devices and the recovery of over USD 100 million.
To strengthen Africa's cyber resilience, INTERPOL recommends harmonizing cybercrime legislation, expanding digital forensic capabilities, improving real-time information sharing between banks, telecommunications firms and law enforcement agencies, investing in AI training for investigators, and strengthening public-private partnerships to combat increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.