INTERPOL’s Operation Contender 2.0 Strikes Major Blow Against West African Cybercrime
In a significant victory against cybercrime, eight individuals have been arrested as part of INTERPOL’s ongoing Operation Contender 2.0. This international crackdown has dealt a major blow to criminal operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria.
Authorities in Côte d’Ivoire, working closely with Swiss police and INTERPOL, have dismantled a large-scale phishing scam that defrauded victims of over USD 1.4 million. The perpetrators posed as buyers on small advertising websites, using QR codes to direct unsuspecting victims to fraudulent websites that mimicked legitimate payment platforms. Victims were tricked into entering personal information, including login credentials and card numbers. To further deceive them, the fraudsters impersonated customer service agents over the phone.
Between August 2023 and April 2024, Swiss authorities received over 260 reports regarding the scam. Investigations traced the suspects back to Côte d’Ivoire, where the Ivorian Cyber Unit, with coordination and intelligence from INTERPOL, led the operation to locate and arrest the main suspect. The individual confessed to the offense, admitting to illicit gains exceeding USD 1.9 million.
The arrest led to the seizure of digital devices now undergoing forensic analysis. Additionally, five other individuals conducting cybercriminal activities were found at the same location, expanding the scope of the operation. Ivorian investigators continue to work diligently to identify additional victims, recover stolen funds, and trace goods purchased with illicit proceeds.
Operation Contender 2.0 represents the latest phase of INTERPOL’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC), launched in 2021. The initiative targets a range of cyber threats prevalent in the African region, particularly West Africa, including business email compromise schemes and romance scams that often involve cryptocurrencies or other digital assets.
In a recent case, Finnish authorities alerted the Nigerian Police Force via INTERPOL about a victim who had been defrauded of a substantial amount of money through a romance scam. Utilizing intelligence from private sector partners such as Trend Micro and Group-IB, INTERPOL’s AFJOC provided detailed information to Nigerian authorities. This collaboration led to the arrest of the primary suspect on 27 April 2024, along with an accomplice. Investigations revealed the offender’s involvement in similar scams and uncovered connections to other potential victims.
Neal Jetton, Director of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate, emphasized the significance of global partnerships in the fight against cybercrime:
“Leveraging the increased reliance on technology in every aspect of our daily lives, cybercriminals are employing a range of techniques to steal data and execute fraudulent activities. These recent successful collaborations, under the umbrella of Operation Contender 2.0, demonstrate the importance of continued international cooperation in combating cybercrime and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
