Africa Sees Double-Digit Rise in Phishing Scams as Cybercrime Goes Global

In a digital era where connectivity promises progress, Africa is grappling with a shadowy underbelly: a surge in phishing scams that has escalated cybercrime to unprecedented levels. According to INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, online scams—including phishing—now comprise 34% of all detected cyber incidents across the continent, marking a sharp rise from previous years. What began as localized threats has gone global, with fraudsters leveraging AI-driven tactics to ensnare victims worldwide, resulting in over $3 billion in estimated losses from 2019 to 2025.

Recent events underscore the crisis’s intensity. In 2024, scam notifications skyrocketed in several nations: Zambia saw a staggering 2,930% increase, Eswatini 476%, and Angola 900%, fueled by sophisticated phishing via email, SMS (smishing), and social media. West Africa, particularly Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, emerges as a hotspot for romance scams and business email compromise (BEC), where perpetrators pose as trusted entities to extract funds— one Nigerian operation netted over $1.9 million. East Africa’s Ethiopia topped global attack targets, while South Africa and Egypt bore the brunt of ransomware tied to phishing lures, with detections hitting 17,849 and 12,281 respectively

This isn’t isolated; it’s a global ripple. Over two-thirds of INTERPOL’s African members report cybercrimes as a medium-to-high share of all offenses, mirroring a worldwide phishing uptick—42% of organizations faced social engineering attacks in 2024. Criminals exploit booming mobile banking and e-commerce, blending deepfakes with traditional hooks for hybrid fraud. Concern among African businesses doubled to 58% in 2024, per KnowBe4’s survey

Yet, hope glimmers through action. Operations like Serengeti (2024) yielded 1,000 arrests and aided 35,000 victims. To combat this, individuals must verify sources, enable multi-factor authentication, and report incidents swiftly. Governments and firms should invest in AI defenses and cross-border collaboration. As Africa’s digital economy soars, fortifying cyber resilience isn’t optional—it’s imperative for sustainable growth.