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Six men suspected of phone hacking and linked to the theft of over 10,000 iPhones and unauthorised access to bank accounts have been arrested in Lusaka’s Kabanana area.
According to Zambia Daily Mail, the youthful suspects allegedly worked in collaboration with international hackers via the messaging app Telegram to steal iPhones and commit cybercrimes.
On Thursday, law enforcement, supported by the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) Cyber Security Task Force, conducted an operation leading to apprehension of the suspects.
During the operation, authorities recovered over 50 SIM cards from two mobile service providers, three iPhone 14 Pro Max devices, and four Tecno Fortune phones.
A source told Zambia Daily Mail that the operation began after a report of a stolen iPhone 14 Pro Max near Kafue Roundabout.
The suspects had used the device to gain unauthorised access to the victim’s FNB account, withdrawing K1,500 and soliciting money through hacked WhatsApp and social media accounts.
“The ZICTA Cyber Security Task Force provided technical support to the COMESA Police Post after receiving the report,” the source said. It added, “Using advanced technology, the team tracked the suspects to Kabanana, where they were apprehended while driving an unregistered silver Lexus.”
The arrested suspects were identified as Leonard Kasonde, John Phiri, Lewis Daka, Ephraim Bwalya, Stanley Banda, and Mike Mwanza.
A search of the vehicle revealed three iPhone 14 Pro Max devices, four Tecno Fortune phones, 30 Airtel SIM cards, and 25 MTN SIM cards.
Analysis of the recovered devices linked the suspects to over 10,000 stolen iPhones and a broader network targeting electronic devices and financial accounts.
The source cited a specific case involving a retired woman from Choma, whose K900,000 pension was stolen, as an example of the suspects’ operations.
Read More: ZICTA warns of rising mobile money fraud amid increased internet penetration (Video)
During interrogation, the suspects disclosed selling stolen phones in neighboring Zimbabwe and other countries to avoid detection in Zambia.
They also revealed their capability to unlock secured devices, bypassing fingerprint and face ID protections with the assistance of international connections.
Authorities warned that activating “lost mode” on stolen phones could inadvertently aid hackers.
The feature displays the owner’s contact information, which the suspects exploit to impersonate victims and gain further access to personal accounts.
The source emphasized the importance of immediately reporting stolen numbers to ZICTA by dialing *707#.
Investigations are ongoing to dismantle the suspects’ larger network. The six individuals are currently detained at Lusaka Central Police.
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