NEW DELHI: A Tanzanian court on Friday sentenced 22 Chinese citizens to prison term ranging from seven to 11 years for their participation in attacks, including online fraud and internet scams targeting people in Zambia, Singapore, Peru, and the United Arab Emirates. The Magistrates Court in Lusaka even imposed sanctions between$ 1, 500 and$ 3, 000 after the accused pleaded guilty to charges of pc- related deception, identity fraud, and operating unlawful systems or services. A Congolese male was also given a similar sentence and fine.
The punishment followed the arrest of a group of 77 people, mostly Zambians, in April, whom police described as part of a” advanced internet scams gang”. The medicine enforcement commission spearheaded the operation after a rise in cyber-related fraud cases and many complaints of money being mysteriously drained from bank accounts and mobile phones.
Authorities, including officers from the committee, officers, immigration department, and anti- terrorism unit, raided a Taiwanese- operated business named Golden Top Support Services in Lusaka’s premium suburb. During the raid, they seized over 13, 000 local and foreign mobile phone SIM cards, two firearms, and 78 rounds of ammunition, and arrested the 77 individuals involved.
The drug enforcement commission’s director-general, Nason Banda, revealed that the company employed unsuspecting Zambians between the ages of 20 and 25 to engage in defraudulent activities using SIM cards. These activities included deceptive conversations on platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and chat rooms, guided by scripted dialogues. Following their arrest, the local participants were released on bail.
