Latest news with #OperationRedCard
The South African
24-07-2025
- The South African
Interpol arrests wanted Chinese fugitive in Sandton
The Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) in Pretoria recorded another success when its extradition team arrested a Chinese fugitive reportedly linked to a fraud case reported in China. The 57-year-old suspect reportedly applied for a VISA at the United States of America embassy in Sandton, Johannesburg when his fugitive status was flagged, leading to his arrest on Tuesday, 22 July. Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda van Wyk said a preliminary report indicates that Interpol circulated a Red Notice to all member countries to locate and provisionally arrest the Chinese national, as wanted persons often flee to another country to evade their arrest. Van Wyk said the suspect reportedly applied for a VISA at the United States of America embassy in Sandton when his fugitive status was flagged, leading to his arrest on Tuesday, 22 July 2025. 'The suspect made his first appearance in the Randburg Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 23 July,' she said. Earlier this year, Interpol's Operation Red Card resulted in the arrest of 306 individuals across seven African countries. The operation which aimed to dismantle cross-border criminal networks responsible for significant harm to individuals and businesses was conducted between November 2024 and February 2025. It also targeted scams involving mobile banking, investment, and messaging apps, with cases affecting over 5 000 victims. South African law enforcement reportedly played a pivotal role in this crackdown, apprehending 40 suspects and confiscating more than 1 000 SIM cards and 53 computers. These were linked to a sophisticated SIM box fraud scheme where international calls are rerouted as local ones, often facilitating large-scale SMS phishing attacks. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
BBC News
25-03-2025
- BBC News
Nigeria lead wit highest number of arrested suspects for Interpol cybercrime bust across Africa
Interpol say dem don confam ova 300 suspects of cybercrime scam for dia operation wey dey scatta criminal networks. Di Interpol reveal say na for seven African kontris di operation happun wia authorities gbab a total of 306 suspects. According to Interpol, di operation target mobile banking investment and messaging app scams wia dem also discover more dan 1,500 victims. "Di arrests na part of Operation Red Card, from November 2024 to February 2025, wey aim to stop and scatter cross-border criminal networks wey dey cause major harm to individuals and businesses" "Authorities for seven African kontris don arrest 306 suspects and seize 1,842 devices for international operation wey dey target cyber attacks and cyber-enabled scams." Di seven African kontris wey involve for di Operation Red Card na Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo and Zambia. Dis kontris exchange criminal intelligence on key targets wia Interpol bin provide information on di mode of operations of criminal based on data from dia partners. Nigeria dey lead wit di highest numbers of arrested suspects while Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia dey follow. Kontris and numbers of suspects Interpol arrest Nigeria For Nigeria, Interpol confam arrest of 130 pipo wey involve 113 foreign pesin wey involve for cyber scams and investment fraud. Remember say di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for Nigeria bin release details of how dem burst one ogbonge criminal group full of oyibo pipo wey dey do internet fraud, wey pipo sabi as 'yahoo yahoo', for di kontri. Di EFCC arrest bin happun for December 2024, wia di agency find say some foreign nationals dey recruit young Nigerians, train dem, give dem equipment like computers and smartphones, even open profiles for dem on top social media wey dem go dey use to dey do all kain fraud like romance scams, investment scams and cryptocurrency wayo. According to Interpol, "Nigerian police arrest 130 pipo, including 113 foreign nationals, for dia alleged involvement for cyber-enabled scams such as online casino and investment fraud." Interpol say di suspects dey recruit pipo from different kontris and languages wia dem go also try to cover dia illegal work. "Nigerian authorities don establish say some of di pipo wey dey work for di scam centres fit also be victims of human trafficking, wey dem force into criminal activities," Interpol tok Dem add say di investigation bin lead to 'seizure of 26 vehicles, 16 houses, 39 plots of land and 685 devices for Nigeria. Rwanda During di Interpol international operations, Rwandan authorities arrest 45 members of a criminal network wey dey involve for social engineering scams dat lead to recovery of thousands of dollars. According to Interpol, Rwanda authority catch di criminal network afta dem don defraud victims of ova $305,000 US dollar for 2024 alone. How dis ones dey operate na to disguise to be telecom employees and collect sensitive information to fit gain access to victim phones and bank accounts. "Anoda method involve impersonating family member wey wunjure to ask relatives for financial assistance towards hospital bills," according to Interpol. Dem reveal say na about $103,043 US dollars dem recova and seize 292 devices. South Africa For South Africa, Interpol confam arrest of 40 suspects wey dia own operation include to dey change international calls to local ones so as to carry out dia criminal attacks. Dem also seize ova 1,000 sim cards wey di criminals dey take do large sms attacks. "From South Africa, authorities arrest 40 individuals and seize more dan 1,000 SIM cards, along wit 53 desktops and towers wey dey linked to a sophisticated SIM box fraud scheme." "Dis setup wey dey change international calls as local ones na im criminals dey use well-well to carry out large-scale SMS phishing attacks," Interpol tok. Zambia Na about 14 suspected members dem arrest for Zambia wey dey hack into pipo phones. Dem suspects dey also send malicious messages wit link wey be say if di victim don open di link, e go install dangerous malware into di phone. Na through dis format di suspects dey hack into phones and access banking apps of di victims. "For Zambia, officers catch 14 suspected members of a criminal syndicate wey hack into victims phones. "Dis allow hackers to take control of di messaging account, and ultimately di phone and give dem access to banking apps." Interpol add say how dis criminal gangs dey operate be say dem go fit 'use di victim messaging apps to share di malicious link within conversations and groups wey go enable di scam to spread.'
