Mozambique’s Central Office for Combating Organised and Transnational Crime (GCCCOT) is investigating a fraud scheme involving the withdrawal of funds from dormant bank accounts, allegedly with the involvement of employees at a commercial bank.

According to an official statement, the investigation was launched following a complaint filed by a domestic financial institution against its own staff.

The scheme centred on identifying bank accounts that had recorded no transactions for more than 180 days. Fraudsters would then reactivate those accounts using forged or falsified documents, after which debit cards were issued to withdraw cash or make payments through point-of-sale (POS) terminals.

The statement said that several employees of the financial institution have already been detained and charged with offences including fraud through electronic payment instruments, criminal association, money laundering, document forgery, and the use of false documents.

The GCCCOT also announced that it may extend its investigations to other financial institutions, with the aim of establishing whether similar schemes exist elsewhere and identifying those responsible.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office body reaffirmed its commitment to preventing and combating organised, economic, and financial crime.