An important meeting took place from September 11 to 15 between officials from the United States Department of Justice and law enforcement authorities from Togo and Ghana. The purpose of this meeting was to strengthen the fight against cyber fraud and cybercrime in West Africa.
Officials from the United States Department of Justice recently held discussions with Togolese law enforcement authorities, including directors and inspectors from the National Police, BRI, DCPJ, DGDN, OCRTIDB, and CENTIF. According to information provided by the U.S. Embassy in Togo, the discussions focused on “joint efforts to counter cyber fraud affecting Togo through improved information sharing.”
According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs, this initiative is part of the Anti-Fraud Initiative in West Africa. It aims to combat various types of scams, including those targeting elderly and vulnerable Americans, pandemic-related fraud, unemployment insurance fraud, and business email compromise scams.
Indeed, the figures revealed by the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel database are alarming. In 2022, nearly 70,000 Americans reported romance scams, resulting in colossal financial losses totaling $1.3 billion. In parallel, the FBI recorded over 21,000 complaints related to business email compromise schemes, causing estimated losses of $2.7 billion. These numbers highlight the extent of cybercrime not only in the United States but also worldwide.
In this context, the collaboration between officials from the U.S. Department of Justice and law enforcement authorities from Togo and Ghana is of paramount importance. By joining forces, these countries aim to strengthen the fight against fraud and cybercrime. This meeting marks a significant step in international cooperation in digital security.
