arrested in April, in connection with what authorities called a “sophisticated internet fraud syndicate”.<\/a><\/p>\nThe swoop on a Chinese-run company in the capital, Lusaka, followed an alarming rise in internet fraud cases in the country, targeting people in countries around the world.<\/p>\n
Growing numbers of Zambians losing money from their mobile and bank accounts through money-laundering schemes which extend to other foreign countries, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) said in April.<\/p>\n
Dozens of young Zambians were also arrested after allegedly being recruited to be call-centre agents in the fraudulent activities, including internet fraud and online scams, the DEC said during the arrests.<\/p>\n
The 22 people convicted in Lusaka on Friday held different positions in the Chinese-run Golden Top Support Services, the company at the centre of the raid.<\/p>\n
The company, located in Roma, an upmarket suburb of Lusaka, is yet to comment on the allegations.<\/p>\n
The Zambian nationals were charged in April and released on bail so they could help the authorities with their investigations.<\/p>\n
Authorities said the Zambians involved had been tasked “with engaging in deceptive conversations with unsuspecting mobile users across various platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, chatrooms and others, using scripted dialogues”.<\/p>\n
Among equipment seized were devices allowing callers to disguise their location and thousands of Sim cards.<\/p>\n
During the raid, 11 Sim boxes were discovered – these are devices that can route calls across genuine phone networks.<\/p>\n
More than 13,000 Sim cards, both local and foreign, were also confiscated, demonstrating “the extent of the operation’s reach,” according to the DEC.<\/p>\n
Two firearms and about 78 rounds of ammunition were confiscated and two vehicles, belonging to a Chinese national linked to the business, were also impounded during the raid.<\/p>\n