About 77 people, including 22 Chinese nationals are being held in Zambia in what officials say is a breakthrough in an investigation into a “sophisticated internet fraud syndicate”
Golden Top Support Services employed many indigenes as call-centre agents but authorities now believe they were involved in cybercrime.
The Zambian Drug Enforcement Commission chief, Nason Banda said on Tuesday that the employees were “engaging in deceptive conversations with unsuspecting mobile users across various social media platforms using scripted dialogues”
The DEC, in collaboration with police, immigration, and anti-terrorism officers, conducted a raid on the Chinese company where devices such as those that enabled callers to mask their location as well as thousands of sim cards were confiscated.
Banda said the company had been under surveillance for months after the government intensified efforts to curb the spike in bank fraud and money laundering cases. He added that two firearms and several rounds of ammunition were recovered, with two vehicles seized.
Most of the alleged victims had been from Singapore, Peru, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a few African countries.
According to Mr Banda, the Zambian nationals have since been charged and released on bail so they could assist with investigations, while the foreigners are still being held.
