INTERPOL has disclosed that a major bank in Ghana was targeted in a cyber attack that resulted in the theft of about 120,000 dollars and the temporary locking of parts of the bank’s data systems.
According to the international police organisation, the incident was uncovered during a continent wide cybercrime operation involving law enforcement agencies across Africa. The operation focused on disrupting organised cybercrime networks and recovering stolen assets.
INTERPOL said the attackers gained unauthorised access to the bank’s systems and succeeded in stealing funds while also restricting access to some internal data. Authorities did not name the affected bank or provide details on how long the systems were compromised.
The cyber attack was identified as part of a broader pattern of financial cybercrime uncovered during the operation. INTERPOL reported that the coordinated effort led to the arrest of 574 suspects across multiple countries.
In addition to the arrests, investigators recovered nearly 3 million dollars believed to be proceeds of cyber related crimes. INTERPOL said some of the data affected by the attack on the Ghanaian bank was successfully restored following the intervention.
Officials said the operation highlights the growing threat of cyber attacks against financial institutions in Africa and the increasing sophistication of criminal networks operating across borders.
INTERPOL noted that investigations into the Ghana case are continuing, with national authorities working to identify those responsible and strengthen cyber security measures to prevent future attacks.