Cybercrime in Zambia: Chinese national jailed for online fraud

Twenty-two Chinese nationals and one Cameroonian man have been given lengthy prison sentences for cyber-related crimes in Zambia.

Some of the gang members, including ringleader Li Xianlin, received prison sentences of up to 11 years.

Members of the group were also fined between $1,500 and $3,000 (£1,180 and £2,360) each.

Zambian authorities say people as far away as Singapore, Peru and the United Arab Emirates have also fallen victim to online scams.

The crackdown on Chinese-run companies in the capital, Lusaka, comes following a surge in internet fraud cases in the country targeting people from around the world.

The Drugs Enforcement Commission (DEC) said in April that an increasing number of Zambians are losing money from their mobile phones and bank accounts in a money laundering scheme that also extends to other countries.

At the time of the arrests, the DEC said dozens of Zambian youths were also arrested for allegedly being recruited as call centre staff to operate fraudulent schemes including internet fraud and online scams.

The 22 people convicted in Lusaka on Friday held various positions at the Chinese-owned Golden Top Support Services company which is at the centre of the raids.

The company, which is based in Lusaka’s upmarket Roma neighbourhood, is yet to comment on the allegations.

The two Zambian nationals were charged in April and released on bail to assist authorities with their investigation.

Authorities said the Zambians involved were tasked with “engaging in deceptive conversations with unsuspecting mobile users on various platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram and chat rooms using scripted conversations”.

The equipment seized included devices that allow callers to spoof their location, as well as thousands of SIM cards.

During the search, 11 SIM boxes were discovered – devices that can route calls through a genuine telephone network.

More than 13,000 domestic and international SIM cards were also seized, revealing the “wide scope of the operation,” the DEC said.

Two firearms and about 78 rounds of ammunition were seized during the searches, along with two vehicles owned by Chinese nationals linked to the business.