The end of a story that began in Asia and ended in Africa.
An international police operation against cybercrime has yielded significant results. Law enforcement agencies in dozens of countries have taken down tens of thousands of malicious network addresses associated with phishing, malware, and ransomware attacks. The campaign has demonstrated how actively criminal groups exploit global internet infrastructure to defraud users and attack organizations.
Operation Synergia III ran from July 2025 to January 2026 under the coordination of Interpol. Law enforcement agencies from 72 countries and territories participated in the investigation. The combined efforts resulted in the disabling of over 45,000 malicious IP addresses and servers. Ninety-four individuals were detained during the operation, and approximately 110 more remain under investigation.
Interpol analyzed data on malicious activity , converted the collected information into operational materials, and forwarded them to national services for further action. Law enforcement agencies conducted a series of raids and operations against the cybercriminals' infrastructure. As a result, 212 electronic devices and servers used in the attacks were seized.
According to Neil Jetton, head of INTERPOL's Cybercrime Unit, online criminal schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated and destructive. International cooperation, he believes, remains a key tool for identifying criminal networks, stopping attacks, and protecting potential victims.
Reports from national agencies reveal a wide range of schemes. In Macau, law enforcement identified over 33,000 phishing and fraudulent websites. Criminals disguised the sites as online casinos, banking services, government portals, and payment systems. Visitors to these pages topped up their accounts on the fake platforms or provided personal information and bank card details.
In Togo, police arrested ten individuals operating out of a residential area. Some of the group hacked social media accounts, while others engaged in social engineering . After hijacking a profile, the criminals contacted the owner's contacts, posed as an acquaintance, and established fictitious romantic relationships or asked the victim's friends and family for money.
A large cyberfraud ring was also uncovered in Bangladesh. Forty suspects were detained and 134 electronic devices were seized. Investigators link the group's members to numerous fraudulent schemes, from fake loans and job offers to identity theft and bank card fraud.
During the operation, Interpol collaborated with private companies Group-IB, Trend Micro, and S2W. These partners helped track malicious activity and identify servers involved in criminal campaigns.
An international police operation against cybercrime has yielded significant results. Law enforcement agencies in dozens of countries have taken down tens of thousands of malicious network addresses associated with phishing, malware, and ransomware attacks. The campaign has demonstrated how actively criminal groups exploit global internet infrastructure to defraud users and attack organizations.
Operation Synergia III ran from July 2025 to January 2026 under the coordination of Interpol. Law enforcement agencies from 72 countries and territories participated in the investigation. The combined efforts resulted in the disabling of over 45,000 malicious IP addresses and servers. Ninety-four individuals were detained during the operation, and approximately 110 more remain under investigation.
Interpol analyzed data on malicious activity , converted the collected information into operational materials, and forwarded them to national services for further action. Law enforcement agencies conducted a series of raids and operations against the cybercriminals' infrastructure. As a result, 212 electronic devices and servers used in the attacks were seized.
According to Neil Jetton, head of INTERPOL's Cybercrime Unit, online criminal schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated and destructive. International cooperation, he believes, remains a key tool for identifying criminal networks, stopping attacks, and protecting potential victims.
Reports from national agencies reveal a wide range of schemes. In Macau, law enforcement identified over 33,000 phishing and fraudulent websites. Criminals disguised the sites as online casinos, banking services, government portals, and payment systems. Visitors to these pages topped up their accounts on the fake platforms or provided personal information and bank card details.
In Togo, police arrested ten individuals operating out of a residential area. Some of the group hacked social media accounts, while others engaged in social engineering . After hijacking a profile, the criminals contacted the owner's contacts, posed as an acquaintance, and established fictitious romantic relationships or asked the victim's friends and family for money.
A large cyberfraud ring was also uncovered in Bangladesh. Forty suspects were detained and 134 electronic devices were seized. Investigators link the group's members to numerous fraudulent schemes, from fake loans and job offers to identity theft and bank card fraud.
During the operation, Interpol collaborated with private companies Group-IB, Trend Micro, and S2W. These partners helped track malicious activity and identify servers involved in criminal campaigns.
