Group-IB collaborated with INTERPOL and AFRIPO in a major crackdown on cybercrime in Africa for “Operation Serengeti.” This article provides details of the operation, including the arrests, the tactics used to identify cybercriminals, and the impact on global cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity firm Group-IB has shared details of its contribution to a high-profile global effort to combat cybercrime. According to Group-IB’s press release, the company played a crucial role in INTERPOL and AFRIPOL’s “Operation Serengeti.”
It was a two-month operation conducted between September 2nd and October 31st, 2024, and led to the arrest of over 1,000 individuals suspected of involvement in various cybercriminal activities across Africa.
By analyzing complex cyberattacks Group-IB identified 10,000 DDoS attacks from African servers, over 3,000 phishing domains, and details of data stealers and actors who published data leaks on Dark Web forums to help agencies dismantle malicious infrastructure and bring cybercriminals to justice. INTERPOL’s Cyber Analytical Reports, informed by Group-IB’s insights, enabled law enforcement agencies to target the most significant cybercrime actors.
“The information shared by participating countries about ongoing cases was incorporated into 65 Cyber Analytical Reports prepared by INTERPOL. These reports ensured that on-the-ground actions were intelligence-driven and targeted the most significant cybercrime actors,” Group-IB’s press release revealed.
Operation Serengeti resulted in the arrest of 1,006 suspects and the dismantling of 134,089 malicious infrastructure and networks. During this operation, authorities identified around 35,000 victims worldwide with financial losses of around US$193 million and provided them with support and assistance.
Operation Serengeti has had a stupendous impact, with arrests and disruptions across Africa, including Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Angola. Kenyan law enforcement dismantled an online credit card fraud ring that stole over US$8.6 million, whereas Senegal arrested eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals, in a US$6 million Ponzi scheme.
In addition, Nigerian authorities apprehended a man running online investment scams and collecting over US$300,000 from victims. Cameroon dismantled a group involved in a multi-level marketing scam, and Angola disrupted a virtual casino operation, which had defrauded Brazilian and Nigerian gamblers, leading to 150 arrests.
“From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks are of serious concern,” Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL, said. “Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together, and these arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from real personal and financial pain.”
