Africa: Over Half of Africa's Cybercrimes Are AI-Enabled - Interpol

What the report says

INTERPOL says AI is now involved in more than half of the cybercrimes reported across Africa, according to its newly released African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026. The report, circulated through Capital FM and published by AllAfrica, describes cybercrime as a fast-growing, increasingly automated underground economy that allows criminal groups to launch attacks at greater scale and across multiple countries. It estimates that cybercrime-related financial losses on the continent have more than doubled since 2024, reaching about $484 million.

The assessment draws on survey responses from 36 member countries and intelligence from private-sector partners. It says 72 percent of the countries surveyed reported organized scam centres, with the highest concentration in Southern and West Africa. The report also highlights the use of AI-generated synthetic identities to defeat biometric checks and support fraud involving bank accounts, mobile loans and SIM registration. Online scams remain the most commonly reported cybercrime, while financial services, telecommunications and government agencies are among the most affected sectors.

The article connects the findings to Kenya, where authorities have reported large volumes of cyber threat activity and recent incidents have shown the potential impact on public institutions. It also notes international operations such as Red Card 2.0 and Synergia III, which led to arrests, asset recoveries and the takedown of malicious infrastructure. More broadly, INTERPOL is urging governments, companies and users to strengthen cyber hygiene, verify digital communications and protect personal data as attacks become more sophisticated.