Wellness and lifestyle-focused direct selling company QNET has acknowledged that its brand has increasingly been exploited by criminal networks to perpetrate fraud, stressing that the biggest victims are innocent individuals and communities deceived through such schemes.

Speaking at the EOCO-INTERPOL Three-Day Regional Coordination and Case Resolution Workshop on Combating Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling “Mobel Q” Modus Operandi, in Accra on July 6, 2026, the Chief Communications Officer of QI Group, Ramya Chandrasekaran, said organised criminal networks across West and Central Africa are becoming more sophisticated in using fake employment, education and travel opportunities to lure vulnerable people.

According to her, the fraudsters often impersonate legitimate companies, including QNET, to make their operations appear genuine.

"Across our region, criminal networks are becoming more sophisticated in the way they deceive and exploit people. They use false promises of employment, education, travel, and opportunity to target vulnerable individuals and families. In many cases, they also misuse the names of legitimate companies to make their schemes appear credible.

"QNET has experienced this directly. Our brand, products, and business model have been misrepresented by fraudulent individuals and criminal networks," she said.


She pointed out that her company, in addition to the harm to its brand by the criminal elements, is also concerned about the countless people who become prey to these fraudsters.

"But while this affects our company, we recognise that the greater harm is done to the victims and communities who are deceived, trafficked, and exploited," she said.

She outlined measures the company has implemented to combat the abuse of its brand, including public education campaigns, collaboration with law enforcement agencies and support for victim repatriation efforts in affected countries.

"QNET has launched public awareness and education campaigns in several countries, worked with local authorities to help communities recognise and report scams, and supported victim repatriation efforts in multiple countries where our brand has been misused by criminal networks," she said.

Highlighting the company's partnership with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Chandrasekaran stressed that combating transnational organised crime requires coordinated efforts among governments, law enforcement agencies and the private sector.

"Our collaboration with EOCO has shown us the value of sustained public-private cooperation. No single institution can address this problem alone. Criminal networks operate across borders, so our response must also be coordinated, practical, and cross-border," she stated.

She also commended EOCO and INTERPOL for organising the regional workshop, describing it as an important platform for intelligence-sharing and strengthening cooperation among stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking, migrant smuggling and organised crime.

"On behalf of QNET and its parent company, QI Group, I reaffirm our commitment to supporting these efforts and to working with partners to help protect innocent people and vulnerable communities from fraud, trafficking, and exploitation," she added.

The three-day workshop, organised by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in partnership with INTERPOL, has brought together investigators, prosecutors, intelligence officers, and law enforcement officials from across West and Central Africa to strengthen regional cooperation against human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and organised transnational crime.

ID/BAI

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