Cybercrime is rising sharply in Africa, with online scams, ransomware, and digital extortion among the most reported threats, according to INTERPOL’s newly released Africa Cybercrime Threat Assessment Report 2025. The report includes key contributions from Dubai-based cybersecurity firm Group-IB.
The report’s fourth edition highlights that cybercrime now accounts for over 30% of reported crime in parts of both Western and Eastern Africa, based on data from law enforcement and private-sector partners.
Key cyber threats
The report identifies business email compromise (BEC), AI-driven fraud, and digital sextortion as fast-growing threats. Countries such as Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa recorded the highest number of public data breaches in 2024. The education and internet services sectors were the most frequently targeted.
South Africa faced the most ransomware activity, with LockBit named the most active ransomware group. These findings come from Group-IB’s own Hi-Tech Crime Trends Report 2024, which was used to support INTERPOL’s analysis.
Law enforcement response
“This fourth edition of the INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment provides a vital snapshot of the current situation, informed by operational intelligence, extensive law enforcement engagement and strategic private-sector collaboration,” said Neal Jetton, INTERPOL Cybercrime Director. “It paints a clear picture of a threat landscape in flux, with emerging dangers like AI-driven fraud that demand urgent attention.”
Ambassador Jalel Chelba, Acting Executive Director of AFRIPOL, added: “Cybersecurity is not merely a technical issue; it has become a fundamental pillar of stability, peace, and sustainable development in Africa. It directly concerns the digital sovereignty of states, the resilience of our institutions, citizen trust and the proper functioning of our economies.”
Group-IB contribution
Group-IB contributed intelligence on phishing, stealer malware, DDoS attack vectors, and cybercriminal infrastructure as part of the AFJOC (African Joint Operation against Cybercrime) program. The company’s support helps strengthen regional cyber resilience through data sharing and targeted analysis.
“We are honored to support INTERPOL and its African member countries in strengthening their cyber resilience,” said Dmitry Volkov, CEO of Group-IB. “This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering global and regional partners with world-class Threat Intelligence, Incident Response, and Investigation solutions to better prevent, detect and investigate cybercrime.”
Financial impact
INTERPOL estimates that Africa has lost USD 3 billion to cybercrime between 2019 and 2025. The report underscores the need for more cross-border cooperation and public-private partnerships to counter digital threats in the region.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
