QNET has reaffirmed its commitment to combating fraudulent activities carried out in its name, as journalists from Sierra Leone and Liberia shared firsthand experiences of the company’s business operations following a visit to its headquarters in Malaysia.
The discussions took place during the QNET VCON Malaysia 2026 media webinar held on Thursday, 22nd October 2026, hosted by Amin Kef Sesay, Managing Editor of The Calabash Newspaper. The engagement brought together journalists and company representatives to discuss QNET’s business model, compliance measures and efforts to prevent individuals from exploiting its name for fraudulent purposes.
Speaking during the webinar, QNET’s Regional General Manager for West and Central Africa, Cherif Sarr, reiterated the company’s position against scams, deceptive employment opportunities, coercion and illegal cross-border movement involving individuals falsely claiming to represent QNET.
Cherif Sarr explained that the company had introduced the Business 2U accreditation process to strengthen accountability among independent distributors. Under the initiative, distributors seeking to operate independent offices must undergo verification, comply with regulatory requirements and obtain the necessary authorisation.
He disclosed that QNET had terminated 141 independent distributor accounts for non-compliance between 2025 and October 2026, including 26 accounts allegedly linked to facilitating fraudulent cross-border movement.
According to Cherif Sarr, the company had also reported 158 cases to relevant authorities and assisted more than 3,000 victims in returning to their countries or reuniting with their families.
He encouraged members of the public to report suspicious offices and individuals claiming to represent QNET, stressing that the company would continue supporting efforts to identify and address fraudulent activities.
Cherif Sarr further highlighted the QNET Against Scams campaign, launched in August 2024 to raise public awareness about fraudulent schemes and provide channels through which suspected scams could be reported.
The campaign has been implemented in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Senegal, with plans to expand into additional countries.
Providing clarification on the company’s operations, the Head of Communications and Global Public Relations for QI Group, QNET’s parent company, Marlene Keur, explained that QNET operates a direct selling business model involving independent distributors who promote and sell products.
Marlene Keur emphasised that commissions are earned through product sales rather than the recruitment of individuals, stressing that the company’s policies prohibit misleading recruitment practices and other activities that violate its code of conduct.
She explained that QNET’s public compliance portal provides information on acceptable business practices, including prohibited activities classified as serious violations.
An important aspect of the webinar was the participation of journalists who visited QNET’s headquarters in Malaysia in September 2026 to gain firsthand knowledge of its operations.
Cecilia Sesay, a television presenter at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), described the visit as an eye-opening experience that provided an opportunity to examine the company’s facilities, products and operational structure.
Cecilia Sesay explained that the visit enabled participating journalists to interact directly with QNET management and raise difficult questions about the company’s activities and allegations involving individuals misusing its name in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
She noted that visiting the company’s offices and engaging its professional staff provided greater insight into its operations and the challenges associated with fraudulent activities conducted under its name.
Similarly, Blamo Toe, a journalist with the Liberian Investigator, shared his experience of visiting QNET’s headquarters, product gallery and QI University during the programme.
Blamo Toe explained that the delegation also attended the opening of VCON Malaysia 2026, which attracted thousands of independent distributors from different countries.
He further disclosed that participating journalists attended a press conference where QNET executives responded to questions concerning the company’s business practices, compliance mechanisms and allegations of fraudulent activities.
According to Blamo Toe, the engagements provided an opportunity for journalists to seek clarification directly from company officials and independently assess information presented about QNET’s operations.
The company maintained that journalists and media institutions remain important partners in promoting public awareness and exposing individuals who exploit legitimate business names to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
QNET disclosed that since 2022, it has facilitated visits by journalists and social media influencers from several African countries to its Malaysian headquarters and VCON, its international convention.
According to the company, the initiative is intended to promote greater understanding of its business model, encourage independent observation and enable participating media practitioners to share their experiences with colleagues and the wider public.
QNET reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with law enforcement authorities, regulatory institutions and media organisations to combat fraudulent practices, protect consumers and promote responsible business operations across West Africa.
