Cybercrime

AI is driving over 50% of cybercrime in Africa, with digital scams surging, according to INTERPOL. The article highlights the growing threat of AI-enabled cyberattacks on the continent.

Southeast Asian cybercriminal syndicates have expanded their operations globally, shifting from trafficking goods to providing services while continuing to traffic people from at least 80 countries. This activity cost nations in the region at least $88 billion in 2025 alone.

A family member was scammed after calling a fake Meesho support number found via Google, leading to an AnyDesk scam where the scammer used 'Malta Store' as their account name. The victim was instructed to buy Myntra gift cards, which the scammer later redeemed. The transaction only showed a company name 'Malta Store', complicating recovery efforts.

The US has announced a visa restriction policy targeting foreign nationals involved in cybercrime and cyber-enabled crimes, including online investment scams and sextortion, along with their immediate family members. The policy, part of the Trump administration's campaign against cybercrime, highlights alleged $10 billion in losses to US citizens in 2024 from scams orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organizations.

The US will restrict visas for foreign nationals involved in cybercrime, including potential extensions to their families, using authority under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The policy targets individuals responsible for cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime, citing $10 billion in US citizen losses in 2024 and sextortion schemes affecting children.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa restrictions targeting individuals involved in cybercrime and cyber-enabled crimes, including cyberscams and sextortion. The policy also extends to immediate family members of those implicated. President Donald Trump's executive order on combating cybercrime and fraud is part of broader efforts to address transnational criminal organizations and protect U.S. citizens from financial and sexual exploitation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa restrictions targeting foreign nationals involved in cybercrime and cyber-enabled crimes, including cyberscams and sextortion. The policy extends to certain family members of those implicated. President Donald Trump's executive order 'Combatting Cybercrime, Fraud, and Predatory Schemes Against American Citizens' is also highlighted, emphasizing measures against foreign scam centers and transnational criminal organizations.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established a direct communication channel with Meta Asia Pacific to accelerate investigations into cybercrime, online fraud, and hate speech. This partnership allows secure data requests for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp through the National Command and Control Centre (NC3), reducing response times from months to days.

FBI Director Kash Patel met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to discuss joint efforts against international online scam operations. The U.S. and Cambodia aim to combat scams causing billions in annual losses, with Cambodia hosting an international conference on cyber scams in September.

FBI Director Kash Patel met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to discuss closer security cooperation against online scam operations. The UN estimated $114 billion in scam-related losses in the Asia-Pacific by 2025, with Patel also attending a U.S.-Thailand summit on the issue. Cambodia is hosting an international conference in September to combat cyber scams.

African leaders and security chiefs have urged stronger regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and community engagement to address terrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, and violent extremism. They emphasized that these challenges require collective action rather than individual national efforts.

Malaysia is overhauling its nearly 30-year-old cybercrime law to address online fraud, digital impersonation, and AI-generated abuse. The Cybercrimes Bill 2026 was passed by the lower house in July 2026 and approved by the upper house, but experts caution its success hinges on effective enforcement and preventing power misuse.

In 2025, Telangana accounted for 44% of India's cybercrime FIRs, registering 21,639 cases out of the national total of 49,620, making it the state with the highest number of such cases.

Nigerian authorities jailed journalist Stanley Ugagbe for two months pending trial over cybercrime and defamation charges. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for his immediate release and for the charges against him and his publisher, Tega Oghenedoro (Fejiro Oliver), to be dropped.

Anthropic is hiring experts to prevent AI misuse in areas like nuclear weapons, explosives, and cybercrime, offering salaries in the mid- to upper-$200Ks. The company emphasizes safety testing to avoid catastrophic outcomes, aligning with its belief in AI's real-world risks.

Hyderabad top cop Sajjanar recommends eliminating mule accounts and ghost SIMs to combat cybercrime. The proposal focuses on addressing tools used in cybercriminal activities.

Pakistan and Bangladesh agreed to enhance cooperation in combating cybercrime and online fraud during a meeting between their interior ministers in New York. The ministers also discussed expanding police training programs and addressed regional security issues, including the US-Iran conflict and the Middle East situation.

Pakistan and Russia agreed to develop a joint strategy against Afghan-based terrorist networks during talks between their interior ministers at the UN Chiefs of Police Summit. They discussed enhancing cooperation in counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, cybercrime, and law-enforcement training, including signing a memorandum of understanding to institutionalize bilateral efforts. Pakistan's interior minister also emphasized the need for collective action against terrorism and discussed security cooperation with China.

A legal debate is emerging over WhatsApp's username feature, with the Centre expressing concerns about cybercrime risks. The discussion focuses on balancing informational privacy, free choice in technology design, and the extent of state intervention.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has called for stronger regulatory powers to protect UK consumers from AI risks in financial services. A review highlighted increased threats of cybercrime and fraud as companies shift toward AI-enabled services by 2030.

Australian individuals face a reduced cybercrime risk due to improved institutional safeguards and stricter regulations. However, the burden of protection and risk reduction has shifted to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Cyberabad police arrested 15 individuals during a week-long cybercrime crackdown and secured ₹2 crore in refunds for victims.

Zanzibar Police Force has received advanced information and communication technology (ICT) equipment to enhance its capacity to combat cybercrime and other technology-related offences.

A former Colorado Bureau of Investigation forensic scientist pleaded guilty to four felony charges for mishandling DNA evidence in over 30 sexual assault cases, affecting more than 1,000 criminal cases. The plea deal dismissed 100 initial charges in exchange for a potential 16-year prison sentence.

Yvonne Missy Woods, a forensic scientist at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, pleaded guilty to four counts in Jefferson County Court related to DNA mishandling that affected over 1,000 cases. She will receive an eight to sixteen-year prison sentence for the first cybercrime charge, with other sentences served concurrently, while 100 remaining counts were dismissed. Her misconduct led to a 1994 murder conviction being overturned and potentially influenced other case outcomes.

A Nigerian court ordered the remand of Omoyele Sowore in the Kuje Correctional Centre following allegations of cybercrime. The Federal High Court in Abuja also dismissed his application for the judge's recusal.

G7 leaders expanded their warning about North Korean crypto theft to include broader cybercrime, as researchers connect DPRK-affiliated actors to billions in stolen digital assets.

Sri Lanka is experiencing an alarming rise in cybercrime as transnational scam networks, particularly Chinese-run operations, relocate from Southeast Asia. Experts attribute this to the ease of obtaining tourist visas and limited regulation on SIM cards and internet connections, with police noting an increase in cybercrimes by tourists setting up scams.

The Telangana State Cyber Crime Bureau (TGCSB) verified 103 individuals accused of cybercrime across Telangana under Operation Crackdown 3.0.

The Home Minister reviewed measures related to policing, traffic, cybercrime, and narcotics control. The focus was on assessing existing strategies and protocols in these areas.

The EFCC addressed the controversial death of a cybercrime suspect, stating the individual was found lying in a pool of blood.

A report warns that personal data is being legally sold online and subsequently exploited by hackers to steal millions. The issue highlights risks of data exposure through legitimate online channels.

Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the 'Shanghai spirit' at an SCO meeting, urging member states to adopt a joint strategy against terrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, and drug trafficking. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi emphasized modernizing coordination and intelligence-sharing to address evolving security challenges, highlighting Pakistan's efforts under the National Action Plan to strengthen counter-terrorism and border security.

The Select Committee on China, led by Chairman John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Ro Khanna, uncovered a China-linked scam center network in Southeast Asia defrauding Americans of at least $10 billion annually. The network, concentrated in Cambodia and Burma, is tied to human trafficking, cybercrime, and money laundering.

An unknown group of hackers is breaking into systems previously breached by TeamPCP, kicking them out and removing their hacking tools. The victims' systems are being targeted by this new group of hackers. This new development indicates a possible shift in the cybercrime landscape.

A study led by Cambridge found that AI is not significantly enhancing the capabilities of hackers, but rather assisting them in generating spam blog content. The research suggests that cybercrime may be one area where AI is not replacing human workers. The study's findings indicate that AI's impact on hacking is limited to mundane tasks.

The FBI extradited Xu Zewei, a Chinese national linked to China's Ministry of State Security, for hacking U.S. COVID-19 research between 2020–2021. FBI Director Kash Patel credited a 2026 Italy trip for enabling collaboration with Italian authorities to apprehend Xu, who allegedly targeted U.S. universities and researchers during the pandemic. Chinese officials reportedly attempted to block the extradition.

The Scam Center Strike Force has announced coordinated actions against Southeast Asian criminal organizations operating scam centers that target Americans. This represents a major enforcement effort against transnational cybercrime operations.

Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cybercrime in 2025, marking a record for cyber-enabled economic losses. Private sector losses from malicious cyber activity regularly exceed $200 billion annually, with both criminal groups and state-sponsored hackers increasingly targeting U.S. economic interests. The article examines how cybersecurity relates to broader economic statecraft and national security strategy.

A ransomware negotiator has pleaded guilty to involvement in a BlackCat ransomware scheme, highlighting risks when negotiators handle ransom payments. Experts warn against entangling payment processes with negotiation roles to prevent such outcomes.