UAE leads Operation Confrontation Ghost to combat global digital fraud

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Interior has announced the results of ‘Operation Confrontation Ghost,’ a major international crackdown on organized digital fraud. Conducted between July and September 2026, the operation involved law enforcement from 30 countries, Interpol, the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), and 13 private sector companies across the technology and financial services industries.

The operation targeted three primary criminal patterns: AI-powered fraud, financial fraud via digital platforms, and online sexual extortion. Key outcomes included the arrest of over 960 suspects, the identification of 3,500 suspects, and the protection of 15,500 victims. Authorities identified assets and cryptocurrencies exceeding $39 billion linked to fraudulent activities.

Additional achievements reported include the disruption of over 123 million attempted cyber frauds, the blocking of 4,126 bank accounts, and the closure of more than 570 social media accounts. The operation also involved raids on 29 fraud centers and the exchange of over 9,000 pieces of intelligence to dismantle complex cross-border criminal networks.