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Interpol arrests 5,811 people, seizes $293 million in global scammer crackdown

Why it matters: Interpol has wrapped up its biggest anti-fraud sweep of the year, reporting 5,811 arrests and the interception of $293 million in illicit assets across 97 countries and territories. The operation, code-named First Light 2026, ran from January 15 to April 30 and targeted social engineering fraud: the umbrella term for scams that manipulate victims into handing over money or sensitive information voluntarily, covering business email compromise, romance scams, impersonation fraud, investment fraud, and sextortion.