AI-Driven Cybercrime Surges Across Africa as Nigeria Records ₦25.85bn Digital Fraud Loss — Reports
Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping the cybercrime landscape across Africa, with new data indicating that more than half of reported cases on the continent are now linked to the use of advanced digital tools.
Findings from INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 show that cybercriminals are deploying artificial intelligence to carry out faster, more sophisticated and harder-to-detect attacks, marking a transition toward a more coordinated and borderless criminal ecosystem. The report estimates that AI is involved in about 55 per cent of cybercrime incidents across Africa, with financial losses rising sharply to approximately $484 million in 2025.
Online scams remain the most prevalent form of cybercrime, driven by the widespread use of mobile money platforms, social media and automated fraud techniques. Regional trends also indicate variations in criminal activity, including mobile money fraud and ransomware in East Africa, and business email compromise and romance scams in West and Central Africa.
Complementing the continental outlook, Nigeria’s financial sector has also recorded significant exposure to cyber-related fraud. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) shows that digital payment fraud losses stood at ₦25.85 billion in 2025. Although this represents a notable decline from the ₦52.26 billion recorded in 2024, authorities say the figure remains substantial and points to persistent vulnerabilities in the system.
The CBN attributed the reduction in losses to improved monitoring systems, stronger identity verification frameworks and tighter regulatory controls. However, it warned that Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital payments ecosystem continues to face risks linked to cyber threats, operational failures and the growing interdependence of financial service providers.
According to the apex bank, the concentration of transactions among a limited number of major payment service providers could pose systemic risks, where disruptions affecting one operator may have ripple effects across the financial system. Concerns were also raised about weak interoperability within the sector and the activities of unlicensed payment operators, which could expose users to fraud and financial crimes.
Both reports highlight the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, including the use of synthetic identities and AI-generated content to bypass security systems and manipulate victims. Financial institutions and digital platforms remain primary targets for ransomware attacks, data breaches and credential theft.
Despite the challenges, progress is being recorded through stronger legislation, cross-border cooperation and coordinated enforcement operations, which have led to arrests and recovery of illicit funds. Experts, however, stress the need for deeper collaboration between governments, financial institutions and technology providers, alongside improved digital literacy and investment in cybersecurity infrastructure, to effectively counter evolving threats.
