Artificial intelligence, AI, is now powering more than half of the cybercrime reported across Africa, with criminals using the technology to launch faster, more sophisticated attacks that are increasingly difficult to detect, according to INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026.
The 40-page report, released on Monday, August 3, found that AI is linked to 55 per cent of reported cybercrime cases on the continent.
It warns that cybercrime has evolved from isolated incidents into a highly organised, cross-border criminal enterprise fuelled by rapid digital growth and gaps in law enforcement preparedness.
With Africa recording more than 1.1 billion mobile subscribers in 2025, INTERPOL said the continent’s digital expansion has created new opportunities for innovation but has also widened the space for cybercriminals to operate.
The agency noted that cybercrime laws remain fragmented across many countries, while the readiness of law enforcement agencies to tackle AI-enabled threats is still “alarmingly low.”
The report, based on survey responses from 36 African member countries, shows that online scams remain the most common form of cybercrime.
Criminals are increasingly exploiting mobile money platforms, social media and artificial intelligence to deceive victims.
It also revealed that 72 per cent of surveyed countries reported the existence of scam centres, with the highest concentration found in West and Southern Africa.
INTERPOL said the financial impact of cybercrime has risen sharply, with estimated losses increasing from 192 million dollars in 2024 to 484 million dollars since 2025. It attributed the surge largely to AI-assisted fraud, credential theft and automated social engineering attacks.
The report highlighted East Africa as a hotspot for mobile money fraud and ransomware attacks targeting critical infrastructure.
West and Central Africa were identified as major centres for business email compromise and romance scams, while Southern Africa’s high internet connectivity has made it an attractive target for international cybercriminal networks.
The assessment also warned that AI is intensifying digital sextortion and online harassment through the use of deepfakes and synthetic media.
According to the report, TrendAI detected about 600,000 sextortion cases, underscoring the growing scale of technology-driven abuse.
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Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes have also become more sophisticated, with cybercriminals using AI to generate highly convincing emails.
INTERPOL said several Africa-based groups have targeted businesses and individuals in Europe and North America while operating across multiple jurisdictions.
The report further warned that weak coordination between banks, telecommunications companies and law enforcement agencies has created significant gaps in tackling financial crime.
Criminals are increasingly creating AI-generated synthetic identities by combining genuine personal information with fabricated details to bypass biometric verification systems, open bank accounts, obtain mobile loans and register SIM cards under false identities.
Speaking on the findings, Neal Jetton, Director of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime unit, said:
“Cybercrime has emerged as one of the most significant criminal threats to the region. AI is automating every stage of a cyberattack from reconnaissance and phishing to extortion and evasion.
“However, we see that when countries work together, cybercriminal infrastructure can be identified, disrupted and dismantled.”
Despite the growing threat, the report noted encouraging progress across the continent. It said 17 African countries introduced or updated cybercrime legislation in 2025, while Senegal launched an online reporting platform to improve responses to crimes affecting children.
INTERPOL also highlighted the success of four major multinational operations—Operation Serengeti 2.0, Operation Contender 3.0, Operation Sentinel and Operation Red Card 2.0—which collectively resulted in more than 1,500 arrests, the seizure of hundreds of electronic devices and the recovery of over 100 million dollars linked to cybercrime.
The organisation called on African governments to strengthen digital forensic capabilities, improve cross-border intelligence sharing, invest in AI training for law enforcement officers and build stronger partnerships with the private sector to prevent and combat cybercrime more effectively.