LYON: AI cybercrime accounted for 55% of cases reported by surveyed authorities in 2025, INTERPOL said on August 3.
The African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 drew on responses from 36 member countries. INTERPOL also examined national incident reports and data from private cybersecurity partners.
The 55% figure included 47% of cases where authorities encountered AI occasionally. Another 8% involved frequent AI use.
Reported cybercrime losses rose from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025. Meanwhile, the number of identified victims increased from 35,000 to 87,000.
However, INTERPOL cautioned that underreporting and different national reporting methods limited the completeness of the financial data.
Online scams remained the most frequently reported cybercrime category. Attackers used mobile money platforms, social media and AI to expand their reach, according to the INTERPOL report.
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The survey also found scam centres in 72% of participating countries. Southern and West Africa recorded the highest concentrations.
Criminals used generative AI for phishing, synthetic identities and deepfake-based fraud. They also deployed the technology in digital extortion, online harassment and business email compromise schemes.
Neal Jetton, director of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime unit, said AI now automates attack stages ranging from reconnaissance and phishing to extortion and evasion.
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Four INTERPOL-coordinated operations led to more than 1,500 arrests. Authorities also recovered over $100 million and seized hundreds of devices.
Separately, 17 African countries enacted or amended cybercrime laws in 2025. Yet only 8% of surveyed intelligence analysts reported advanced AI expertise.
