"Facing the Ghost"... The UAE announces the arrest of 960 defendants and thwarting 123 million electronic fraud attempts

On Wednesday, the UAE Ministry of Interior announced the results of what it called “Operation Confrontation Ghost,” which targeted organized digital fraud networks with the participation of law enforcement authorities in 30 countries. The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that the operation resulted in the arrest of more than 960 defendants, the identification of more than 3,500 suspects and 15,500 victims, in addition to monitoring funds and digital currencies worth more than $39 billion linked to “fraudulent activities.”

She added that the judicial authorities, participating countries and private sector companies are working to recover the assets detected during the operation, which was led by the UAE Ministry of Interior in cooperation with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the Global Anti-Fraud Alliance (GASA), and 13 entities from the technology sector, financial services and digital platforms. The results of the operation included the exchange of more than 9,000 intelligence pieces of information, blocking 4,126 bank accounts, and closing more than 570 accounts on social media platforms linked to fraud, as well as raiding 29 fraud centers, according to WAM.

The process also contributed to thwarting more than 123.71 million electronic fraud attempts worldwide, and securing more than 4 billion financial transactions per month using digital encryption technology, which contributes to protecting user data and reducing the risks of financial fraud. Operation “Confronting the Ghost” was carried out over a period of three months, between July 1 and September 30, 2026, and targeted three main types of digital crimes: fraud supported by artificial intelligence, financial fraud via digital platforms, and electronic sexual blackmail.

The operation relied on enhancing international cooperation, exchanging intelligence information, tracking criminal activities, and accelerating the response to digital threats, as part of efforts aimed at disrupting criminal networks that carry out their operations across borders, according to WAM. 30 countries participated in the operation: the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, Canada, Norway, Japan, the United Kingdom, Ecuador, Romania, Kuwait, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Denmark, Myanmar, Brazil, Jordan, Italy, Maldives, Singapore, Sweden, China, Senegal, France, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Slovakia, Kenya, Morocco, The Netherlands, and South Korea.

Thirteen entities specialized in technology, financial services and digital platforms also participated, namely Bayut, Crypto.com, Dubizzle, FeedZay, Ghostly Solutions, Group-IB, Huawei, MasterCard, Meia Pico, Meta, Outser, TikTok, and Trend Micro. The results of the operation were announced during a side event organized by the UAE on the sidelines of the thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, held in the Austrian capital, Vienna, between October 19 and 23, 2026, under the title “From cooperation to action: How law enforcement agencies, international organizations, and the private sector jointly address organized fraud.”

In the same context, the Cyber ​​Security Council of the United Arab Emirates government confirmed, on Wednesday, that it had monitored and responded to about 750,000 cyberattack attempts during the last period, targeting a number of vital sectors, most notably energy and education, and included distributed denial-of-service attacks, phishing attempts, and remote execution of software commands, in addition to attacks supported by artificial intelligence techniques, according to WAM. The Council explained that the increase in the number of monitored attack attempts does not necessarily mean the occurrence of successful hacks, but rather reflects the efficiency of national capabilities in early detection of threats, dealing with them, and reducing their risks, pointing to the continued development of the cybersecurity system by employing advanced technologies and artificial intelligence and enhancing coordination between the concerned authorities, in a way that supports the protection of digital infrastructure and the continuity of vital services.