An international crackdown on online fraud led by the United Arab Emirates has resulted in more than 960 arrests and uncovered over $39 billion in funds and digital assets linked to scam activity.
Known as Operation Confrontation Ghost, the three-month operation ran from July 1 to September 30, 2026, bringing together law enforcement agencies from 30 countries, INTERPOL, the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and 13 private-sector partners. The campaign focused on AI-powered scams, digital financial fraud and online sextortion.
According to the UAE Ministry of Interior, investigators identified more than 3,500 suspects and 15,500 victims during the operation. Authorities also blocked 4,126 bank accounts linked to fraud, shut down more than 570 social media accounts and raided 29 suspected fraud centres.
The teams exchanged more than 9,000 pieces of intelligence to help investigators track criminal networks, identify victims and follow the movement of suspicious funds across borders. Authorities are now working to recover the assets identified during the investigation, although the reported $39 billion has not been confirmed as money already recovered.
The operation also involved technology and financial companies, including Meta, TikTok, Mastercard, Huawei, Crypto.com and Trend Micro. Their participation supported efforts to identify suspicious activity, disrupt scam networks and strengthen cooperation between law enforcement and the private sector.
The results highlight how online fraud has become an international problem, with criminals using digital platforms, financial services, cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence to deceive victims and move money between countries. Operation Confrontation Ghost aimed to make it harder for these networks to operate by combining intelligence and coordinated action across borders.
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