Burkina Faso’s Central Brigade for the Fight Against Cybercrime (BCLCC) has recorded more than nine billion CFA francs in financial losses linked to cybercrime over five years, its commander, Chief Police Commissioner Bayi Akim Nignan, said at a press briefing in Ouagadougou. The toll reveals the growing scale of a threat that is still underestimated by the general public.
Offences recorded include online scams, video blackmail, attacks on computer systems and privacy, and the dissemination of illicit content and false information.
The BCLCC also warns against fraud involving mobile money, mobile banking, e-commerce and investment platforms.
Cryptocurrencies and online betting can also serve as grounds for financial scams and money laundering, its officials say.
To strengthen prevention, the brigade is organising the second National Cybercrime Awareness Week from 26 to 30 October.
Under the theme “Cybercrime and emerging digital threats: from click to crime,” the initiative includes awareness campaigns, panel discussions, open days and a hackathon devoted to digital investigations.
At an open day in Ouagadougou on Monday, the secretary-general of the Ministry of Security, Ahmed Ouédraogo, urged citizens to better understand the rules governing the use of digital platforms.
The BCLCC commander stressed internet users’ responsibility, recalling that a simple click, share or comment can sometimes constitute an offence.
Beyond the figures, the week reflects a growing awareness: the fight against cybercrime cannot rest on the brigade alone, whose resources remain limited in the face of increasingly diverse scams.
Prevention, digital literacy and individual responsibility are therefore becoming links as essential as enforcement. The question remains whether awareness-raising can reverse a trend already summed up by the nine billion CFA francs in losses.
Kamal zangré
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