Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the cybercrime landscape across Africa, with Nigeria emerging as both a major target and source of digital attacks, according to INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026.
The 40-page report revealed that cyber-related losses across the continent more than doubled to $484 million, with AI now playing a role in 55 per cent of reported cybercrimes by enabling attacks that are faster, more scalable and increasingly difficult to detect.
INTERPOL warned that while Africa’s digital economy continues to expand—with more than 1.1 billion mobile subscribers recorded in 2025—many countries remain vulnerable due to fragmented cybercrime laws and limited AI readiness among law enforcement agencies.
Drawing on responses from 36 African member countries, the report described cybercrime as an industrialised, borderless ecosystem driven by AI-powered scams, credential theft and automated social engineering.
According to the assessment, online scams remained the most common cybercrime across Africa in 2025, with criminals exploiting mobile money platforms, social media and AI-generated content to deceive victims. It added that 72 per cent of surveyed countries reported the existence of scam centres, particularly in West and Southern Africa.
Nigeria was identified as one of the continent’s cybercrime hotspots, recording 5,822 ransomware detections in 2025. INTERPOL said the country now plays a dual role as both an origin and target of cybercriminal activity.
The report also highlighted the compromise of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) website in 2025, saying the attack disrupted economic data collection and fuelled disinformation campaigns, exposing the vulnerability of critical national infrastructure.
Beyond ransomware, INTERPOL identified mobile money fraud, cryptocurrency scams, Ponzi schemes and romance scams as some of the fastest-growing cyber threats across Africa. Many of these operations, it noted, operate through networks disguised as legitimate fintech businesses and are supported by cross-border money laundering activities.
Another emerging concern is the increasing use of synthetic identities, where criminals combine genuine personal information with fabricated details to bypass biometric verification systems. These fake identities are then used to open bank accounts, obtain digital loans and register SIM cards fraudulently.
INTERPOL also identified poor real-time information sharing between banks, telecommunications companies and law enforcement agencies as one of the major weaknesses exploited by cybercriminals.
Commenting on the findings, INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime, Neal Jetton, described cybercrime as one of Africa’s fastest-growing and most significant criminal threats.
Despite the rising threat, the organisation said international cooperation is beginning to produce results. Joint enforcement operations—including Operation Serengeti 2.0, Operation Contender 3.0, Operation Sentinel and Operation Red Card 2.0—have led to more than 1,500 arrests, the seizure of hundreds of electronic devices and the recovery of over $100 million linked to cybercrime.
INTERPOL urged African governments to strengthen cross-border collaboration, improve digital forensic capabilities, invest in AI training for law enforcement agencies and deepen partnerships with the private sector to enhance cybersecurity across the continent.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape both technology and crime, the report warns that Africa’s ability to secure its digital future will depend not only on expanding internet access but also on building stronger cyber resilience and coordinated regional defences against increasingly sophisticated digital threats.