Interpol announced the results of Operation Serengeti III, which involved authorities from 21 African countries between 29 June and 31 August 2026. A total of 1,462 suspects were arrested, 10,909 malicious networks were disrupted and more than 105 million dollars were recovered. Investigators identified 65,929 victims and losses of over 385 million dollars. The operation mainly targeted business email compromise, ransomware and online scams, with support from private cybersecurity firms.

What it means: The figures show the scale organised cybercrime has reached, but also something more practical for businesses: fraud through compromised business email remains one of the most profitable methods around. In this scheme the fraudster poses as a supplier or executive and asks for payment to a new bank account, and it hits small Greek firms as hard as large groups. Many of these businesses trade internationally, and the money is usually moved across borders within hours. Cooperation between authorities and private security firms can lead to arrests and recovered funds, yet recoveries cover only a small part of the losses. Prevention therefore stays inside each company. Confirming every IBAN change by phone, on a known number rather than the one in the email, is the simplest and most effective control. Two-factor authentication on email, rules that flag external senders and training for the accounts team also help. As verification of payee spreads to euro transfers, banks add one more filter, but it does not replace internal checks.

Read the original on INTERPOL

Related service: Custom software

Related stories