A combined operation between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the National Police Agency of Japan has led to the arrest of 11 individuals involved in cybercrimes, including computer-related fraud, romance scams, and identity theft, targeting Japanese victims. The arrests followed an investigation launched after a report on April 3, 2024, identified 13 suspects in […]

The traditional ruler of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, who vanished from public view in March 2024, has been found in FBI custody in the United States. The monarch, who also holds American citizenship, is facing 13 counts of fraud for allegedly defrauding the U.S. government of $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.   His prolonged […]

The Business Registration Service (BRS) in Kenya is currently dealing with a significant data breach that happened on January 31 and exposed private data about businesses and their owners nationwide. One of the immediate consequences of the breach is the sale of stolen data on the dark web. Kenneth Gathuma, the Director General of BRS, […]

The Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti has dismissed the defamation suit filed against activist and writer, Dele Farotimi. The case, which had attracted significant attention, was formally discontinued following the request of the complainant, Afe Babalola, and the intervention of influential figures, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo. […]

Bento Africa, a Nigerian HR-tech platform providing payroll and human resource solutions, is facing uncertainty following the resignation of its CEO, Ebun Okubanjo. The decision, announced on January 30, 2025, comes amid serious financial controversies and challenges in scaling the business in Africa. Bento has paused all transactions, leaving stakeholders questioning its future. Read also: […]

Sahara Reporters publisher and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has refused to pay bail for an offence he insists he did not commit. Meanwhile, police officers reportedly searched the Internet to determine the exact location of the alleged incident.   On Monday, Mr Sowore, accompanied by his lawyers Marshall Abubakar and Deji […]

On Thursday, Monica Geingos, Namibia’s former First Lady, took to X  via the account @FirstLadyNam3 to warn the public about an alarming rise in fraudulent schemes using her manipulated image and voice. In the video message, Geingos addressed the growing threat of AI-powered scams that have targeted both her and other high-profile figures, urging the […]

A group of Nigerian hackers gained access to the UnitedHealthcare database and stole over six terabytes of private information and private health records belonging to 120 million Americans who were insured by the company according to a lawsuit filed by 60 affected Americans on Wednesday. In February 2024, the hackers gained access to UnitedHealthcare’s computer […]

In a shocking revelation on the TF1 program Sept à Huit, Anne, a 53-year-old French interior designer, shared how she was duped out of €830,000 by a man she assumed to be Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. The scam began innocuously but escalated into a financial and emotional catastrophe. Anne’s ordeal started in February 2023 during […]

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) has been recognised as the Best Cybercrime Unit in Africa for 2024 by the INTERPOL Cybercrime Directorate, based in Singapore. The award highlights the NPF-NCCC’s exceptional efforts in combating cybercrime and improving public safety online, placing it ahead of 54 other African nations. In 2024, the NPF-NCCC […]

Ethiopian prosecutors on December 27, 2024, announced serious financial crime charges against two prominent figures from Web Sprix IT Solutions PLC: Dawit Berhanu Ambaye, the General Manager, and Mekdes Aklilu Temesgen, the board chair. The duo were facing allegations of tax evasion, money laundering, and facilitating illegal imports. Read also: Safaricom Ethiopia launches 4G in […]

U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III has overturned the previous ruling granting bail to Bolanle Bombata, also known as Bobo Chicago, after FBI prosecutors presented compelling evidence that he posed a significant flight risk. This decision follows the U.S. government’s swift appeal of the initial bail grant.   On 26 November, Magistrate Judge Beth […]

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has allocated N35 million for “Capacity Building on Cybersecurity and Data Centre Management” in its 2025 budget, nearly two weeks after hackers breached the bureau’s website. The cyberattack on December 18 raised concerns about the bureau’s digital security and led to the allotment of tens of millions of naira […]

Abiola Kayode, a 37-year-old Nigerian who had been on the FBI‘s Most Wanted Cyber Criminal List, has been extradited from Ghana to Nebraska, United States. This came after he was indicted in August 2019 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Nebraska, said in a statement on Thursday that […]

The Nigeria Police Force has announced plans to arrest 601 bank customers linked to a significant breach involving Flutterwave, a leading fintech company.  This announcement was made yesterday following an investigation into a technical glitch that allowed unauthorised transactions totalling N21.2 billion ( $21.2 million) between October 12 and 13, 2023. Read also: Kenya govt […]

Nigerian fintech business PalmPay will work with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and other government agencies to combat financial fraud and use technology to fortify the nation’s digital financial ecosystem, a statement by the fintech company said on Friday. The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by Chika Nwosu, PalmPay’s the Managing Director, […]

Agents of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation have exposed a web of fraud connecting suspected Nigerian scammer Oluyomi Omobolanle Bombata, alias Bobo Chicago, to African Shrine, a nightclub in Las Vegas. The discovery consequently led the Nevada state government to revoke the club’s licence and ban its owner Wale Ogundana from engaging in nightlife […]

Ugandan authorities have asked Interpol to investigate fraudulent transfers of $6 million to Japan and $7 million to England, following a cyber heist in which $13 million (Shs 47.8 billion) was stolen from the Bank of Uganda (BoU). Junior Finance Minister Henry Musasizi denied allegations that 62 billion shillings ($17 million) was taken, stating that […]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Oluyomi Omobolanle Bombata, popularly known as “Bobo Chicago” and “Bola Flexx,” for allegedly orchestrating a business email compromise scheme that defrauded companies and individuals of $2.8 million in the U.S. The 25-year-old was taken into custody on November 20 in Chicago, Illinois, based on an arrest warrant […]

INTERPOL announced the results of Operation Serengeti on Tuesday. This significant anti-cybercrime initiative, conducted from September 2 to October 31, led to the arrest of 1,006 suspects across 19 African countries. The operation aimed to combat various forms of cybercrime, including ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and online scams. Read also: Hackers stole […]