In a daring global crossover that is either the plot of the latest cyber-espionage thriller or an INTERPOL recruitment video, 574 alleged cybercriminals have been apprehended in a continent-wide bonanza of arrests. The operation, named ‘Sentinel’ because ‘Operation Scary Cyber Stuff’ just didn’t have the same ring, promises to bring more drama and suspense than an IT department’s annual budget meeting.

Authorities from 19 countries joined forces in what can only be described as a real-life ‘Avengers: Network Security Edition,’ proving once again that the only thing scarier than being caught by INTERPOL is being caught by them when they’ve also invited 18 of their closest friends. The crackdown focused on the glamorous world of business email compromise and digital extortion, or as the rest of us call it, ‘Guess Who Fell for the Nigerian Prince Scam?’

This move to bust cybercrime networks in Africa could only have been outshone by a Ukrainian ransomware affiliate, who, in a plot twist worthy of a Netflix documentary, has pleaded guilty. Apparently, the guilt of locking grandma’s computer files behind cryptic demands finally outweighed the thrill of bitcoin riches. Next on the agenda: 573 court cases and one heck of a spreadsheet to keep track of it all.