Islamabad: NCCIA arrests five foreign nationals in call center raid

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) conducted a raid on an illegal call centre in Islamabad’s G-10 Markaz late Sunday night, arresting five foreign nationals involved in a sophisticated online scam.

The raid, carried out on a tip-off, revealed over 60 individuals operating at the illegal call centre located in Sardar Plaza.

The arrested suspects were found to be impersonating representatives of a fake online earning company, luring victims into fraudulent "easy money" schemes.

According to the FIR lodged by complainant Aamir Azeem Abbasi, the gang’s multi-layered structure included initial scammers who contacted vulnerable individuals via social media platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp.

“Telegram receptionists” gathered victims’ information, finance managers handled fraudulent cryptocurrency transactions, and foreign operatives, referred to as "killers", emptied bank accounts.

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The FIR noted that the accused used AI-generated images and fake profiles to gain trust and exploit victims financially, both in Pakistan and abroad.

NCCIA officers confiscated equipment used in the scam, including computers and communication tools. The accused failed to present any lawful justification for their operations and confessed to involvement in electronic fraud and impersonation.

The NCCIA stated it will also take legal action against those who facilitated or provided security to the suspects. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on cybercrime networks across the country.

Last week, the NCCIA arrested 149 individuals, including 48 Chinese nationals, in Faisalabad. Similar crackdowns were conducted in Karachi, Lahore, and Multan, with several suspects currently in custody and under investigation.