REPORT: Ghana-Nigeria Cyber-Fraud Network Dupes Over 200 Victims of $400,000
Accra / Abuja — December 26, 2025
Ghanaian authorities, in collaboration with international partners, have dismantled a major transnational cyber-fraud network operating across Ghana and Nigeria that defrauded more than 200 victims of over USD 400,000 through a sophisticated online scam. (Graphic Online)
How the Scheme Worked
Investigators uncovered that the syndicate used professionally designed websites and mobile applications that impersonated well-known fast-food brands. The scam convinced unsuspecting customers to make online payments for fake orders, which were never fulfilled. (Graphic Online)
Authorities say the fake platforms looked credible and leveraged brand familiarity to gain trust before collecting payments — a tactic that enabled the fraudsters to extract large sums from victims across both countries. (Graphic Online)
Operation Sentinel and Allied Arrests
The bust was part of Operation Sentinel, a continent-wide cybercrime crackdown coordinated by INTERPOL, which targeted business email compromise, digital extortion, and ransomware groups across Africa. The overall operation led to:
574 arrests across 19 African nations
Take-down of over 6,000 malicious links
Decryption of six ransomware variants
Recovery of roughly USD 3 million in criminal proceeds
These efforts reflect intensified international cooperation against rising cybercrime threats. (Peoples Gazette Nigeria)
Local Enforcement Actions
In connection with the Ghana-Nigeria fraud network:
10 suspects were arrested in Ghana
Law enforcement seized more than 100 digital devices
30 fraudulent servers used in the scam were taken offline
These coordinated raids disrupted the infrastructure that enabled the fraud. (Graphic Online)
Broader Cybercrime Trends
Operation Sentinel also revealed other significant cybercrime activity, including a ransomware attack on a Ghanaian financial institution that encrypted large amounts of data and stole approximately USD 120,000. Such cross-border operations underscore the growing sophistication of cyber criminal networks in the region. (Peoples Gazette Nigeria)
Official Perspectives
INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime highlighted the value of international cooperation in combating cyber-enabled offenses, noting that coordinated intelligence sharing among African nations and global partners was critical to achieving these breakthroughs. (Graphic Online)
Public Impact
The fraud network’s scheme, which targeted everyday consumers through trusted (but fake) digital channels, exemplifies how cybercriminals increasingly exploit consumer trust and popular brands to carry out large-scale scams. Authorities continue to warn the public to exercise caution with online transactions and to verify the authenticity of digital platforms before making payments. (Graphic Online)
This report underscores the growing challenge of cybercrime in West Africa and the importance of cross-border collaboration to safeguard citizens and the digital economy. (Peoples Gazette Nigeria)
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