(Ecofin Agency) - 22 Chinese nationals and one Cameroonian have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven to eleven years, along with fines, for cybercrime in Zambia, according to information recently relayed by AP News.

These convictions follow investigations launched after a rise in cases of computer fraud. Many victims reported unexplained financial losses from their mobile phones and bank accounts. The defendants were part of an internet fraud network dismantled last April, comprising 77 members, predominantly Zambians. During the raid leading to their arrest, authorities seized over 13,000 SIM cards, firearms, and ammunition. The online scams orchestrated by this network primarily targeted Zambians, as well as individuals in Singapore, Peru, and the United Arab Emirates.

The previous year, 10,718,002 cyber-attacks were officially recorded in the country. Financial losses were estimated at over 150 million kwachas ($5.6 million) between 2020 and the second quarter of 2022. In 2021, Zambia enacted the cybersecurity and cybercrime law aimed at protecting individuals online, especially children, and facilitating the identification, reporting, and safeguarding of critical information infrastructure.

According to the 2020 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), the country ranked 10th in Africa and 73rd globally with a score of 68.88%.