April 11, 2024 at 08:54AM
Law enforcement in Zambia raided a Chinese company posing as a call center, which was uncovered as a front for cybercrime and money-laundering. The company directed employees to engage in deceptive conversations with mobile users across various platforms. The investigation involved multiple law enforcement units and uncovered fraudulent activities extending beyond Zambia’s borders. Thirteen thousand sim cards, sim boxes, firearms, and 22 Chinese citizens were seized, with Zambian workers cooperating in the investigation.
Based on the meeting notes, it can be deduced that law enforcement in Zambia recently conducted a raid on a Chinese company that had allegedly hired young Zambian citizens for positions at a call center, but was actually using them for cybercrime and money-laundering activities. The company, called Golden Top Support Services, was accused of directing its employees to engage in deceptive conversations with mobile users across various platforms, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and chatrooms, using scripted dialogues.
The raid involved the collaboration of Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), law enforcement, immigration, and anti-terrorism units. This action was prompted by a recent increase in bank fraud in Zambia, which raised alarms and led to the investigation and subsequent raid on the company. It was noted that the illegal operations of the company extended beyond Zambia’s borders, impacting victims in Singapore, Peru, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other parts of Africa.
During the raid, authorities discovered and seized 13,000 sim cards, 11 sim boxes for disguising caller locations, and firearms. As a result of the raid, 22 Chinese citizens were arrested, and Zambian workers were charged and subsequently released to assist in the ongoing investigation. This is a significant development that highlights the collaboration between various law enforcement agencies to combat cybercrime and money-laundering activities.