In Zambia, a scandal involving Internet fraud, in which Chinese citizens were implicated, has surfaced. This week, 22 Chinese pleaded guilty to cybercrimes committed as part of a “sophisticated fraudulent syndicate” on the Internet.
They were among a group of 77 individuals detained in April following a raid on the company Golden Top Support Services. Investigations revealed that this company deceived local residents by hiring them under the guise of working in a call center, but in reality, they were coerced into participating in fraudulent telephone calls in the outskirts of the capital city, Lusaka.
“The organizers of this scheme recruited young Zambian residents, primarily high school graduates, posing them as call center operators. The individuals engaged unsuspecting subscribers through various platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and chat rooms,” stated Nason Band, the Director-General of the Drug Enforcement Commission in Zambia, after the raid.
The company’s employees were released on bail, while law enforcement authorities confiscated 13,000 SIM cards and SIM boxes – devices used to disguise international calls as local ones. The criminal activities of the group extended beyond Zambia’s borders, affecting citizens of Singapore, Peru, the UAE, and other African countries. The specifics of the criminal operation were not disclosed by law enforcement officials.
According to BBC, the Chinese nationals admitted to computer fraud, personal data crimes, and unauthorized operation of computer networks. Their sentencing is expected to take place this Friday.
Just a month ago, the US Cyber Command carried out the first counter operation in Zambia aimed at capturing criminals and preventing cyberattacks. Over a three-month period, law enforcement personnel collaborated with Zambian IT experts to identify network vulnerabilities and traces of malicious activities.