Africa-Press. In August 2025, Zambian police raided a call center in Lusaka. The headset-wearing employees were not offering technical support but were part of an international fraud network targeting victims with false promises of cryptocurrency profits.
Journalist Isabel Ravina reported in New Lines magazine that the raid dismantled a human trafficking network and led to the seizure of 372 forged passports. The operation became the cornerstone of a cross-border mission called “Serengeti 2.0,” involving 18 African countries and targeting rapidly expanding cybercrime networks across the continent.
According to Ravina, the operation struck networks accused of stealing about $485 million from 88,000 victims. The campaign, led by Interpol with British funding and Dutch assistance, was carried out by local law enforcement agencies.
Authorities dismantled 11,432 networks and recovered nearly $100 million, reflecting a major shift in African governments’ ability to coordinate responses to complex crimes.
Fraudsters reportedly used young Zambians—many believed to be trafficking victims—to lure targets via WhatsApp and Telegram to fake investment websites.
Ravina noted that these scams are the product of 25 years of digital evolution in Africa, which experienced the fastest digital expansion globally while legal frameworks lagged behind.
The success of Serengeti 2.0 depends on intensive training for African investigators in digital intelligence tools and real-time data tracking. Private cybersecurity firms such as Kaspersky and TRM Labs provided critical technical support.
Operations extended to Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Angola. In Angola, authorities raided 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining warehouses, seizing equipment worth $37 million.
Ravina concludes that Serengeti 2.0 represents a turning point: Africa is no longer merely a source of cybercrime but increasingly a frontline in defeating it.
