The report highlights phishing as the leading cyber threat in Africa. /HANDOUT Kenya has recorded a dramatic surge in suspected online scams, with a 114% increase in scam notifications between 2023 and 2024.
According to a newly released INTERPOL Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2025, the spike positions Kenya among the countries most affected by cyber scams across the continent.
This rise was alongside Sudan, which saw a staggering 3,310% increase, and Angola, which experienced an 826% rise.
“The sharp increase in scam notifications is a reflection of how rapidly cybercriminals are adapting to Kenya’s growing digital landscape,” the report states.
“Criminals capitalise on the growing online activity, in particular social media usage, digital commerce and mobile banking, to perpetrate fraud.”
The report highlights phishing as the leading cyber threat in Africa, accounting for 34% of all cyber incidents on the continent.
In Kenya, phishing campaigns often delivered through emails, fake websites, and messaging apps have grown more localised and sophisticated, tricking users into surrendering sensitive personal and financial information.
INTERPOL warns that no demographic is immune.
“Victims of such crimes are diverse and span all age groups, genders, and professional backgrounds,” the report notes.
"While some populations are more vulnerable, the reality is that everyone is at risk."
According to the report, the growing reliance on digital platforms, mobile money, and e-commerce has created fertile ground for scams, especially as threat actors leverage social engineering, artificial intelligence, and emotional manipulation to deceive victims.
“Scammers are impersonating government authorities, banks, and even employers. What we’re seeing is a shift from mass phishing emails to highly personalised, emotionally manipulative attacks,” said an official from the INTERPOL African Cybercrime Operations Desk, as cited in the report.
The report further highlights the wider regional impact, noting that cybercrime now accounts for more than 30% of all reported crimes in Eastern Africa. “
"This is not just a technology issue. It’s a public safety concern, a financial threat, and a governance challenge,” the report warns.
INTERPOL emphasised the need for urgent investment in cybercrime investigative skills, digital forensics, and regional coordination.
"If these threats are not addressed with urgency and cooperation, Kenya and its neighbours risk deepening digital insecurity,” the report read.
The report called for national stakeholders, including government, law enforcement, and the private sector, to act decisively in building cyber resilience.
“Establish and expand dedicated cybercrime units with sufficient staffing, mandate, and technical resources at the national level,” the report indicated.
It also noted that African countries should invest in cybercrime-specific training for investigators, analysts, prosecutors, and judges, including in areas such as digital forensics, malware analysis, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and financial tracking;
“Ensuring sustainable access to modern investigative tools, including licensed digital forensic software and secure digital evidence storage,” the report indicated.
According to the Malware Detection data from the International Telecommunication Union global cyberthreat index, several African Nations, including Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Mozambique are among the most frequently targeted globally in 2024
