Mass arrests for sextortion and romance scams in sting operation across Africa

Interpol has announced the arrest of 260 suspects in a multinational operation targeting sextortion and romance scams across 14 African countries. The operation, codenamed "Operation Jackal," was conducted in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from various nations. The arrested individuals are accused of orchestrating online fraud schemes, including sextortion and romance scams, where they would lure victims into compromising situations and then extort money from them. The operation involved the seizure of electronic devices and the freezing of bank accounts linked to the criminal activities. Interpol emphasized the transnational nature of these crimes and the need for international cooperation to combat them effectively. The organization stated that the operation's success highlights the importance of sharing intelligence and coordinating efforts among law enforcement agencies to disrupt the activities of organized crime groups involved in these types of scams.