FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
QNET CONDEMNS MISUSE OF ITS NAME IN ALLEGED FRAUD OPERATION IN KONO, SIERRA LEONE
QNET reiterates that it does not facilitate overseas employment, visa arrangements or travel opportunities and remains committed to supporting efforts to combat fraud
Freetown, Sierra Leone, September 23, 2026 – QNET, an international lifestyle and wellness company, is aware of reports concerning an alleged fraud operation in Kono District involving individuals described in reports as suspected QNET operatives and a number of foreign nationals currently under police protection.
QNET strongly condemns any attempt to misuse its name, brand or business model to deceive members of the public or facilitate fraud, human trafficking, unlawful recruitment or other criminal activity.
QNET wishes to reiterate that it does not offer overseas employment, job placements, visa processing, travel arrangements or guaranteed income opportunities. The company’s legitimate business operates through a product-based direct selling model, with Independent Distributors promoting and selling QNET products in accordance with the company’s policies and Code of Ethics.
Any individual who represents QNET as a provider of employment, overseas travel, visa arrangements or guaranteed financial opportunities is acting contrary to the company’s policies and without authorisation to make such representations.
Cherif Sarr, Regional General Manager, QNET Central and West Africa Region, said:
“We are concerned by reports of individuals allegedly being lured through promises of overseas opportunities and subsequently requiring police protection. QNET has consistently maintained that employment, visa and travel offers are not part of our business model. We welcome the intervention of the Sierra Leone Police and remain committed to cooperating with the relevant authorities to establish the facts, support efforts to protect affected individuals and address any misuse or misrepresentation of the QNET name.”
QNET maintains a comprehensive compliance framework and does not tolerate the use of its name or business model for fraudulent recruitment, misleading representations or any other unlawful activity. Where violations by individuals operating within the QNET network are established, the company may take appropriate disciplinary action, including suspension or termination.
QNET’s Commitment to Public Education and Scam Prevention
QNET has also taken proactive steps in Sierra Leone through its “QNET Against Scams” public education campaign, designed to help the public identify fraudulent activities that misuse the QNET name and distinguish them from the company’s legitimate business operations. The campaign has been delivered through multiple platforms, including television, radio, online news portals, social media and print media, alongside billboards in Freetown and other major cities. Campaign messaging has also been carried on Sierra Leone’s state broadcaster, SLABC, as well as through digital media crawlers and online advertising.
The campaign forms part of QNET’s broader commitment to consumer education and preventing the misuse of its name. QNET has previously undertaken similar public-awareness initiatives across West Africa, including Ghana and Senegal.
QNET also supports greater awareness of “Model Q,” a term used to describe criminal methods involving the misuse or impersonation of the QNET name and business model to facilitate fraudulent employment schemes, human trafficking, illegal migration and related activities. Model Q is not QNET and should not be confused with QNET’s legitimate product-based direct selling business.
QNET encourages the Sierra Leone Police and other relevant authorities to continue their investigations and remains available to provide information or clarification that may assist the authorities in distinguishing legitimate QNET operations from activities conducted by individuals who misuse the company’s name.
Commitment to Long-Term Stakeholder Cooperation
As part of its longer-term commitment to combating fraud and protecting the public, QNET is prepared to engage with relevant authorities and stakeholders in Sierra Leone to explore structured public education, information-sharing and fraud-prevention initiatives. This approach builds on QNET’s experience in Ghana, where the company entered into a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to strengthen cooperation against fraudulent schemes involving brand impersonation, fake job offers, illegal migration and human trafficking.
Under the QNET–EOCO partnership, the two organisations work together to support the investigation and disruption of criminal schemes, facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building, raise public awareness of scam tactics and share information on suspicious activities. QNET believes that a similar model of sustained public-private cooperation, adapted to the Sierra Leone context, could support broader efforts to protect communities and address the misuse of legitimate brands.
Members of the public are advised to verify any purported employment, travel, visa or financial opportunity presented in QNET’s name before making payments or providing personal information. Concerns relating to suspected misuse of the QNET name can be reported throughwww.qnet.net, network.integrity@qnet.net, or the QNET WhatsApp Compliance Hotline: +233 256 630 005.
QNET remains committed to working with law enforcement, government stakeholders, the media and communities in Sierra Leone to strengthen public awareness, combat fraud and protect individuals from those who misuse legitimate businesses and brands to deceive the public.
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About QNET
QNET is a prominent lifestyle and wellness company that uses a direct selling business model to offer a wide selection of exclusive products that enable individuals to embrace a healthier, more balanced life.
Since 1998, QNET’s innovative products and e-commerce-driven business model have helped build a global community of satisfied customers and micro-entrepreneurs, who are driven by the mission of RYTHM – Raise Yourself To Help Mankind. Popular product brands offered by QNET include the Bernhard H. Mayer range of luxury watches and jewellery, HomePure range of home care products, the Amezcua wellness range, Physio Radiance personal care range, and QVI branded holiday packages.
QNET proudly holds memberships in the Direct Selling Association in several countries, the Hong Kong Health Food Association, the Health Supplements Industry Association of Singapore, and more. QNET is also active in several global sports sponsorships including in its role as the official direct selling partner of the Manchester City Football Club and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), underscoring its commitment to excellence and global reach. Discover a world of new possibilities with QNET by visiting www.qnet.net
