ZP Records Property Loss of Over K38.9 Million to Online Scams
Minister of Home Affairs has disclosed that the Zambia Police Service has recorded property losses amounting to over K38.9 million, out of the 1, 124 online scams reported between 2023 and the first half of 2024.
Delivering a ministerial statement in Parliament, Jack Mwiimbu revealed that of the over K38.9 million loss, property worth K12.4 million has been recovered.
Mr. Mwiimbu further disclosed that of the 1, 124 online scams, 320 cases involved obtaining money by false pretences, while 170 were on cyber extortion, 184 on unauthorized access to data, while 450 were identity-related crimes.
He added that investigations in 560 cases have been concluded and taken to court, with convictions secured in 117 cases, while trial is ongoing in the remaining cases.
“In recent years, we have witnessed a rise in online and mobile money scams targeting our citizens. people from all walks of life are being defrauded by criminals who exploit the convenience of digital platforms to perpetrate fraudulent schemes.”
“One common scam involves individuals claiming to offer empowerment funds for the youth or “magic money” to unsuspecting members of the public. These scams can scale up their operations easily, using computers to send millions of scam phone calls, SMS, and Whatsapp or telegram messages daily,” Mr. Mwiimbu noted.
Mr. Mwiimbu assured that his Ministry working in collaboration with the Ministry of Technology and Science, is taking decisive action to combat these crimes.
“Our government recognizes the severe impact these fraudulent activities have on the lives of ordinary people. We are strengthening efforts to track, apprehend, and prosecute scammers, and we are collaborating with financial institutions, mobile network operators, and other stakeholders to implement stronger security measures and raise public awareness.”
“We have engaged all mobile network operators to ensure that their agents do not issue preregistered sim cards including issuing sim cards using national registration cards that do not belong to the sim card owners,” he added.
