A cybercrime syndicate operating out of Zambia faced justice as 22 Chinese nationals and one Cameroonian received lengthy prison sentences for their involvement in online scams.
Among them, Gu Tianjiao, the sole female convict, tearfully faced a seven-year sentence in the Lusaka Magistrates Court. Leading the pack was Li Xianlin, the mastermind, who received an 11-year sentence.
Fines ranging from $1,500 to $3,000 accompanied the jail terms.
The group’s fraudulent activities extended globally, affecting victims from Singapore, Peru, and the UAE. Their crimes ranged from computer-related misrepresentation to identity theft and running illicit networks.
The crackdown followed the arrest of 77 suspects associated with what authorities termed a “sophisticated internet fraud syndicate.”
The operation targeted a Chinese-run company in Lusaka, Golden Top Support Services, situated in an upscale suburb. The company, yet to respond to the allegations, was at the center of the raid.
Meanwhile, Zambian nationals involved in the scheme, after being charged in April, were released on bail to assist investigations.
During the raid, authorities confiscated numerous devices facilitating deceptive communications, including Sim cards and equipment enabling callers to disguise their locations.
The operation’s scale was evident with the seizure of over 13,000 Sim cards, both local and foreign, and the discovery of 11 Sim boxes capable of routing calls across legitimate phone networks. Additionally, authorities impounded firearms, ammunition, and vehicles associated with the illicit activities.
