Artificial intelligence is driving more than half of reported cybercrimes across Africa, enabling faster, more sophisticated and harder-to-detect attacks, according to INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026.
The report, based on data from 36 African member countries, found that AI is linked to 55 per cent of reported cybercrimes, with online scams, business email compromise, romance fraud and ransomware among the most prevalent threats. It also revealed that cybercrime-related losses across the continent have more than doubled since 2024, rising from US$192 million to US$484 million.
INTERPOL said cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to create deepfakes, generate convincing phishing emails and produce synthetic identities capable of bypassing biometric security systems to commit financial fraud.
The report identified East Africa as a hotspot for mobile money fraud and ransomware attacks, while Central and West Africa continue to face high levels of business email compromise and romance scams. Southern Africa’s high internet connectivity has also made the region a key target for global cybercriminals.
Despite the growing threat, INTERPOL noted that cybercrime legislation remains fragmented across Africa and AI readiness among law enforcement agencies is low. The organisation called for stronger cross-border cooperation, improved digital forensic capabilities, greater investment in AI training for law enforcement and closer collaboration between governments and the private sector.
INTERPOL also highlighted progress in tackling cybercrime, noting that four major international operations carried out in 2025 resulted in more than 1,500 arrests, the seizure of hundreds of devices and the recovery of over US$100 million.