Interpol recently launched a transnational law enforcement operation in Africa, codenamed "Operation Red Card", which successfully dismantled multiple cross-border telecommunications fraud networks that had shifted to Africa. This three-month special operation yielded astonishing results—synchronizing nets in 7 African countries, arresting 306 suspects, and seizing 1,842 devices involved in the crimes, with the amount involved possibly exceeding 200 million US dollars.
Operation Decryption: Precision Strike Assisted by Technology Companies
The success of this operation in precisely targeting its objectives is due to Interpol's innovative cooperation model:
Intelligence Alliance: Collaborating with top cybersecurity firms like Group-IB and Kaspersky Lab, using blockchain tracking and malware analysis to map out the digital footprints of criminal groups
Tactical Sharing: Establishing a joint command center across 7 countries, utilizing Interpol's I-24/7 global communication system to synchronize intelligence in real-time
New Crime Atlas: Analysis shows that 85% of the scam dens masquerade as legitimate call centers, while 15% are hidden in villa areas
Startling Insights from Seized Devices:
Among the electronic devices seized were:
537 "scam smartphones" (pre-installed with remote control software)
892 cryptocurrency wallet cracking tools
413 forged "script manuals" (including multilingual versions)
Fraud 2.0: Africa as a New Hotbed for Criminal Groups
Interpol's Cybercrime Director, Craig Jones, pointed out: "Criminal groups are using Africa as a springboard." The investigation found:
Crime Migration Route: Southeast Asia → Middle East → Africa (Nigerian scam hubs have grown by 300% in the past two years)
Localization of Crimes: Recruiting local African youths as "front-end operators", with European members providing technical support
Latest Scam Scripts:
False cryptocurrency investment platforms (42%)
Impersonating multinational bank security departments (31%)
"Pig Butchering" romance scams (27%)
Transnational Cooperation Breakthrough: 7-Country Raid Timeline
This operation set multiple "firsts" in combating cybercrime in the African region:
Victim Rescue: Cries Across Continents
Over 5,000 confirmed victims from around the world were involved in the operation:
European elderly (62%)
North American small business owners (23%)
Asian newlyweds (15%)
A French victim, Pierre, revealed to this newspaper: "They impersonated my grandson and scammed 120,000 euros of my retirement money, which was meant for my cancer treatment..."
Future Challenges: The Adaptive Evolution of Criminal Groups
Despite the significant achievements of the operation, experts warn:
Technological Countermeasures: Criminal groups have begun using quantum encrypted communications
Geopolitical Evasion: Moving to conflict zones (such as the Sahel region)
Black Market for Talent: "Scam engineer" training services appearing on the dark web
