Hackers reportedly stole over $100,000 from a Ghanaian financial institution
INTERPOL has disclosed that a ransomware attack on a Ghanaian financial institution led to the theft of about US$120,000, highlighting the growing financial toll cybercrime is taking on banks and other financial institutions across the continent.
The incident came to light during Operation Sentinel, a coordinated cybercrime operation carried out in 19 African countries.
According to INTERPOL, the attackers encrypted an estimated 100 terabytes of data, severely disrupting operations and cutting off access to critical systems.
Although Ghanaian authorities later managed to recover nearly 30 terabytes of data through advanced malware analysis, the financial loss underscored how lucrative such attacks have become for cybercriminals.
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The Ghana case formed part of a wider crackdown that revealed the scale of losses suffered by financial institutions and businesses across Africa.
INTERPOL said total losses linked to the investigated cases exceeded US$21 million, with hackers exploiting ransomware, business email compromise, and digital extortion schemes.
INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime, Neal Jetton, warned that attackers are increasingly targeting sectors that hold large volumes of sensitive data and financial assets.
He said the outcomes of Operation Sentinel demonstrate both the scale of the threat and the importance of coordinated responses.
“The scale and sophistication of cyberattacks across Africa are accelerating, especially against critical sectors like finance and energy. The outcomes from Operation Sentinel reflect the commitment of African law enforcement agencies, working in close coordination with international partners,” he said.
According to the report, 574 arrests have been made, and about US$3 million has been recovered.
FKA/MA
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