AI Fuels Over Half of African Cybercrime Amidst Soaring Financial Losses, INTERPOL Reports

A recent INTERPOL report, the African Cyberthreat Assessment 2026, reveals that Artificial Intelligence (AI) now powers 55% of reported cybercrimes across Africa. This surge in AI-enabled attacks is making cybercriminal activities faster, more sophisticated, and harder to detect, leading to a doubling of financial losses from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025 across the continent. The report, based on data from 36 African member countries, highlights a shift from isolated criminal acts to an industrialized, borderless cybercrime ecosystem.

The assessment details various regional trends: East Africa is a hotspot for mobile money fraud and ransomware, while Central and West Africa contend with business email compromise (BEC) and romance scams. Southern Africa's high internet connectivity makes it a prime target for international cybercriminals. Online scams remain the most common form of cybercrime, with criminals leveraging mobile money platforms, social media, and AI-generated content to deceive victims. The report also notes a rise in digital sextortion and online harassment, increasingly driven by AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic media.

INTERPOL warns that fragmented legislation, limited AI readiness among law enforcement, and a lack of real-time information sharing between banks, telcos, and law enforcement agencies are exacerbating vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals are using AI to create synthetic identities that bypass biometric systems, open fraudulent bank accounts, and register SIM cards. Despite these challenges, the report acknowledges progress, with 17 African countries enacting or amending cybercrime legislation in 2025 and regional capacity-building initiatives enhancing cyber resilience.