AI fuels more than half of cybercrime in Africa as digital scams surge, INTERPOL

Artificial intelligence is fueling more than half of all reported cybercrime in Africa, according to a recent report by INTERPOL. The African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 reveals that 55% of cybercrime incidents across the continent involve AI, enabling attackers to conduct more effective, persuasive, and large-scale operations. As Africa’s digital landscape expands rapidly, so too does the threat posed by cybercriminals leveraging this powerful tool. The report draws on data collected from 36 African nations and outlines how cybercrime has transformed into a well-organised, transnational enterprise. This shift makes it increasingly difficult for local authorities to track and prevent such crimes. With over 1.1 billion mobile users in 2025, the continent's reliance on digital services has created fertile ground for both technological innovation and exploitation by malicious actors. Online scams represent the largest portion of cybercrime in Africa, according to the findings. These scams frequently employ AI in conjunction with social media and mobile money platforms to target potential victims. Financial losses attributed to cybercrime have surged dramatically, rising from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025. This increase is largely due to AI-powered fraud schemes, identity theft, and complex social engineering techniques. The report identifies regional variations in cybercrime patterns. In East Africa, threats include mobile money fraud and ransomware attacks aimed at vital infrastructure. Meanwhile, West and Central Africa continue to grapple with business email compromise and romance scams impacting both corporate entities and individual consumers. Southern Africa, with its robust digital infrastructure, has become a prime target for global cybercriminal networks looking to cause maximum disruption. INTERPOL warns that AI is fundamentally altering the methods employed by cybercriminals. Deepfake technology and AI-generated content are increasingly utilised in digital sextortion and online harassment campaigns. According to one of INTERPOL’s technology partners, TrendAI, approximately 600,000 sextortion cases were linked to these tactics. Additionally, there has been a notable rise in Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams, where criminals use AI to craft emails that mimic messages from trusted contacts. Africa-based cybercriminal groups have extended their reach beyond the continent, targeting businesses and individuals in Europe and North America. These groups often use infrastructure spanning multiple countries to obscure their activities. Another emerging issue involves synthetic identities, where cybercriminals combine authentic data with fabricated details to construct entirely new digital personas. These false profiles have been used to open bank accounts, secure mobile loans, and register SIM cards, often bypassing biometric verification systems. Weak collaboration between banks, telecommunications firms, and law enforcement agencies hampers efforts to combat cybercrime effectively. The lack of real-time information exchange allows criminals to swiftly transfer stolen funds and exploit vulnerabilities across various jurisdictions before authorities can react. Many African law enforcement bodies are still struggling to keep pace with the rapid adoption of AI by criminal networks, despite the swift evolution of this technology. Despite these challenges, there have been positive developments across the continent. In 2025, seventeen African countries either introduced or revised their cybercrime legislation, indicating a growing commitment to addressing the issue through legal frameworks. This legislative activity suggests a recognition of the need for stronger measures to counter the increasing sophistication of cyber threats.