Yaoundé Gendarmerie: Démantèle Réseau Cybercriminels, Fraude Mobile Money

• A cybercriminal network specializing in fake travel tickets and Mobile Money fraud was dismantled in Yaoundé by the gendarmerie.
• The network's alleged leader, SUFFO Patrick, a repeat offender, and an accomplice were arrested after an investigation triggered by a victim's complaint.
• The criminals created fake travel websites and used pressure tactics to steal over 50 million FCFA from multiple victims' Mobile Money accounts.
• The initial victim lost 19,000 FCFA for a fraudulent ticket and an additional 230,000 FCFA from her Mobile Money account.
• The suspects have been handed over to justice, and investigations are ongoing to identify further accomplices.

This case underscores the persistent and evolving threat of cyberfraud, particularly targeting online transactions and Mobile Money accounts, within Cameroon's digital landscape.

Authorities in Yaoundé have successfully dismantled a sophisticated cybercriminal network, specialized in the illicit sale of counterfeit travel tickets and the unauthorized access of Mobile Money accounts. The operation, spearheaded by the Service de Recherches Judiciaires et de Lutte contre le Grand Banditisme (SRJ/PRG) of the First Gendarmerie Region, marks a significant intervention against digital fraud in the region.

The investigation commenced following a complaint from a woman who reported a substantial financial loss. She had purchased a travel ticket online for 19,000 FCFA, destined for Douala, via a Facebook page purporting to be for Touristique Voyages on July 30, 2026. However, upon attempting to board the following day, her name was conspicuously absent from the passenger manifest. Further inquiry by the travel agency revealed that the ticket was fraudulent, purchased through a counterfeit website, and that five other passengers had fallen victim to the same scheme.

Compounding her ordeal, the victim discovered that her Mobile Money account had been debited an additional 230,000 FCFA without her consent. This dual fraud prompted a rigorous investigation, which, in collaboration with elements of the Presidential Guard, led to the apprehension of the network's alleged mastermind, SUFFO Patrick, known by the alias « Le Suspendu », in the Awae district. His subsequent interrogation facilitated the arrest of an accomplice in the Nkomo neighborhood.

The criminal enterprise employed a deceptive modus operandi, as detailed by Captain NJALONG NAN, Head of the Monitoring and Statistics Office at the SRJ/PRG. The perpetrators would establish fraudulent websites mimicking legitimate interurban and international transport agencies. They then instructed victims to provide screenshots of their transaction confirmations for ticket purchases made on these fake platforms. This seemingly innocuous request served as a pretext to verify the victims' Mobile Money account balances.

Once the balance was ascertained, the criminals would exert pressure on their targets, coercing them into executing multiple transactions. This tactic enabled the network to effortlessly withdraw funds from the victims' electronic accounts. SUFFO Patrick, identified as the ringleader, is reportedly an expert in creating these deceptive national and international travel sites. He is also a known repeat offender, having been previously convicted twice for similar cyberfraud activities.

An analysis of the phone numbers utilized by the network revealed the extensive scale of their illicit operations. The cybercriminals had collectively siphoned off more than 50 million FCFA from numerous victims through these fraudulent schemes.

Following their apprehension, the suspects have been handed over to judicial authorities to face charges related to their criminal actions. The gendarmerie has confirmed that an active investigation is still underway, with efforts focused on identifying and apprehending any additional accomplices involved in the network.

This case underscores the persistent and evolving threat of cyberfraud, particularly targeting online transactions and Mobile Money accounts, within Cameroon's digital landscape. The swift action by the Yaoundé gendarmerie to dismantle this network highlights the active enforcement efforts by authorities to combat cybercriminalité and protect citizens from financial exploitation.

This case highlights the persistent threat of cyberfraud targeting online transactions and Mobile Money accounts in Cameroon. Lawyers should advise clients, particularly those in e-commerce or financial services, on implementing robust cybersecurity measures and consumer protection strategies to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with anti-fraud regulations, given the active enforcement by authorities.

Source: Original reporting via Actu Cameroun