AI is used in more than half of cybercrimes in Africa, and financial losses continue to grow. This is according to a new study that found artificial intelligence enables criminals to execute faster and more complex attacks.
“Cybercrime has become one of the most significant criminal threats to the region,” said Neil Jetton, director of Interpol’s Cybercrime Directorate, in a report published on Monday that covered 36 countries. “AI automates all stages of cyberattacks — from reconnaissance and phishing to extortion and evasion.”
Growth of economic losses and Interpol’s recommendations
These findings highlight the increasing economic risks and security threats as Africa’s digital economy expands. Cybercrime caused at least $5 billion in direct economic losses to the continent in 2025, while recorded financial losses more than doubled compared to the previous year, reaching $484 million, the report stated.
The threat is expected to intensify without stronger cross-border cooperation and greater investment in law enforcement capabilities. Interpol called for the standardization of digital forensics capabilities, improved intelligence data sharing between the public and private sectors, and expanded AI expertise among investigators to more effectively combat increasingly complex cyber threats.
Only 8% of surveyed cyber intelligence analysts possess advanced artificial intelligence skills, the report noted.
New threats: synthetic identities and attack geography
The study identified the creation of AI-generated synthetic identities as one of the fastest-growing threats in Africa, combining real personal information with fictional details. These synthetic identities can bypass biometric verification systems and are also used to open bank accounts, obtain credit, and register SIM cards, complicating the detection of financial fraud, according to the study.
Cybercriminals based in Africa are targeting victims in Europe and North America, utilizing infrastructure spread across multiple jurisdictions. Meanwhile, East Africa has emerged as a major hub for mobile money fraud and ransomware attacks aimed at critical infrastructure, the report said.
Financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and government agencies remain the sectors most frequently targeted by cybercriminals, the report noted.
Source: Bloomberg
