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INTERPOL Says AI Fuels 55% of Cybercrime Across Africa as Losses Reach $484 Million
['Sam Wakoba', 'Sam Wakoba Is A Kenyan Technology Journalist', 'Tech Entrepreneur', 'Digital Transformation Leader. He Builds Technology Solutions That Empower Businesses', 'Institutions Across Africa In The Age Of Ai.', 'With Experience Across Technology', 'Media', 'Fintech', 'Communications', 'Entrepreneurship']
TechMoran
Artificial intelligence is now linked to 55% of reported cybercrime across Africa, helping drive financial losses to $484 million, according to INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026.
The report shows that cybercrime losses have more than doubled from $192 million since 2024, with AI increasingly used to automate phishing attacks, impersonation scams, identity fraud and other digital crimes.
Online scams remained the most reported cybercrime across Africa last year, with attackers using AI alongside mobile money platforms and social media to reach victims.
Business email compromise attacks have also become more sophisticated, with AI used to generate highly convincing corporate correspondence.
AI is automating every stage of a cyberattack from reconnaissance and phishing to extortion and evasion,” said Neal Jetton, Director of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate.