LUSAKA CRACKS DOWN ON INTERNET FRAUD SYNDICATE
LUSAKA — In a stunning revelation, authorities in Zambia have dismantled a “sophisticated Internet fraud syndicate”, resulting in the apprehension of 77 individuals, including 22 Chinese nationals.
Described as a “significant breakthrough in the fight against cybercrime”, the crackdown occurred during a multi-agency raid on a Chinese-operated company.
The company had hired Zambian employees under the guise of call-center agents.
Seized during the operation were tools that allowed callers to conceal their location, as well as thousands of Sim cards.
Golden Top Support Services, the focal point of the raid, has refrained from commenting on the allegations.
The operation, carried out in the upscale suburb of Roma in the capital city of Lusaka, was spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and involved the police, immigration department, and anti-terrorism unit.
The raid was the culmination of extensive intelligence gathering by the agencies in response to a surge in internet fraud cases in Zambia, DEC director general Nason Banda stated following the operation.
Banda revealed that Golden Top Support Services had recruited young Zambians aged 20 to 25, tasking them with engaging in deceitful conversations with unsuspecting mobile users across various platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and chatrooms, using pre-written scripts.
During the raid, 11 Sim boxes were discovered, devices capable of redirecting calls in a manner that bypasses legitimate phone networks.
This allowed for their utilization in fraudulent activities, including internet fraud and online scams, Banda explained.
Additionally, over 13,000 Sim cards—both domestic and international—were confiscated, highlighting the vast reach of the operation, according to the DEC head.
Banda noted that an increasing number of Zambians were falling victim to money-laundering schemes, with the alleged illicit operations of this syndicate extending beyond Zambia’s borders.
Evidence suggested that individuals in countries such as Singapore, Peru, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and various African nations were targeted.
Two firearms and roughly 78 rounds of ammunition were seized, and two vehicles belonging to a Chinese national associated with the business were impounded.
While the Zambian nationals have been charged and released on bail to assist with investigations, the foreign nationals—22 Chinese men and a Cameroonian—remain in custody. — BBC
