The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa has published a regional typologies report on money laundering and terrorist financing linked to cybercrime in West Africa, concluding that cybercrime is both a major source of criminal proceeds and a growing channel for moving illicit funds across the region. Based on 52 cases, the report identifies seven main typologies, with advance fee fraud the most prevalent, followed by mobile money fraud, Ponzi schemes, hacking and business platform compromise, card fraud, and cyber-enabled terrorist financing. GIABA also reports that, based on country researcher interviews, law enforcement agencies across the region appear overwhelmed, with two out of every three reported offences linked to cybercrime. The report says weak cybersecurity, limited public awareness, underinvestment in digital controls, weak regulatory monitoring, and uneven enforcement are amplifying money laundering and terrorist financing risks. It highlights significant legislative and institutional gaps, especially around the powers of lead cybercrime authorities, the ability to obtain and use digital evidence, and the overall weakness of preventive regulatory frameworks in much of West Africa. It also finds that investigators and prosecutors often do not run parallel financial investigations when cybercrime is detected, while cross-border cooperation remains weak despite some progress in adopting cybercrime laws and relevant international instruments. GIABA recommends stronger public awareness campaigns, better national risk assessment, digital forensic laboratories, more training for investigators, and closer alignment between cybercrime frameworks and AML, CFT and CFP laws. At regional level, it calls for a forum of national cybercrime platforms, stronger information sharing, closer monitoring of the signing, ratification and domestication of international instruments, and more capacity to detect, investigate, prosecute and adjudicate cases while following the money.
Inter Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)2025-05-01
Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa publishes cybercrime typologies report identifying seven ML and TF patterns led by advance fee fraud
The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa has issued a regional report on money laundering and terrorist financing linked to cybercrime, identifying seven typologies from 52 cases. Advance fee fraud was the most prevalent pattern, and the report says weak laws, limited digital forensic capacity, and scarce parallel financial investigations are hampering enforcement. GIABA calls for stronger legal frameworks, more investigative capacity, and tighter regional and international cooperation.