Artificial intelligence is now enabling 55% of reported cybercrimes across Africa, according to the African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 published by INTERPOL. The findings, released in August 2026, indicate that artificial intelligence is making digital attacks faster, larger in scale, and significantly harder for victims and platforms to detect.
INTERPOL Report Flags Artificial Intelligence in African Cybercrime
The 40-page assessment draws on survey data from 36 African member countries, examining an ecosystem built on the continent’s rapid digital expansion. In 2025, Africa recorded more than 1.1 billion mobile subscriptions and over $1.1 trillion in digital transactions, while more than 570 million people relied on the internet for banking, government services, healthcare, and education.
Cybercrime has emerged as one of the most significant criminal threats to the region.
Financial Toll and Regional Threat Patterns
Financial losses associated with cybercrime across the continent have more than doubled since 2024, climbing from $192 million to $484 million, according to the report. Investigators attribute the sharp increase to AI-facilitated scams, credential harvesting, and automated social engineering campaigns.
Online scams remained the most reported form of cybercrime in 2025. Attackers leveraged mobile money platforms, social media, and artificial intelligence to reach a broader base of victims. The assessment found that 72% of surveyed countries identified scam centres operating within their borders, with the highest concentrations located in Southern and West Africa.
Cyber threats varied distinctly across different regions:
- East Africa: Emerged as a primary hub for mobile money fraud and infrastructure-targeted ransomware.
- West and Central Africa: Recorded high levels of business email compromise (BEC) detections, online scams, and romance fraud.
- Southern Africa: Experienced heavy concentrations of ransomware, phishing, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and targeted activity due to ultra-high digital connectivity.
Business email compromise caused substantial losses through deceptive emails, including AI-generated correspondence designed to imitate corporate executives and persuade employees to redirect payments. Some Africa-based criminal groups also directed BEC schemes toward businesses and individuals in Europe and North America.
Advanced Attack Methods: Deepfakes and Synthetic Identities
Criminal networks are increasingly incorporating advanced technologies into their operations. Digital sextortion and online harassment campaigns have seen a heavy reliance on AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic media. TrendAI, an INTERPOL technology partner, detected approximately 600,000 sextortion cases linked to these tactics.
Another emerging concern is the creation of synthetic identities. Rather than solely stealing existing personal details, cybercriminals combine genuine personal data with fabricated elements to construct entirely new digital personas. These fake profiles have been deployed to open bank accounts, obtain mobile loans, and register SIM cards while evading certain biometric verification systems.
Ransomware attacks also disrupted critical infrastructure and essential services, including weather systems, customs operations, electricity networks, and telecommunications providers. The report noted that South Africa accounted for 92% of African ransomware detections recorded by TrendAI in 2025, while Nigeria, Uganda, and Namibia reported suspected or confirmed attacks on public services.
Law Enforcement Response and International Operations
Despite the growing scale of industrialized cybercriminal enterprises, governments and international bodies have mounted coordinated responses. In 2025, 17 countries enacted or amended cybercrime legislation, expanded specialized training, and launched public awareness initiatives.
Operations including Serengeti 2.0, Contender 3.0, Sentinel, and Red Card 2.0 collectively led to more than 1,500 arrests, the seizure of hundreds of electronic devices, and the recovery of over $100 million in criminal proceeds.
To sustain these efforts, INTERPOL’s assessment recommends standardizing digital forensic capabilities, improving cross-border cooperation, investing in AI literacy training for law enforcement officers, and expanding formal public-private partnerships.
