Lahore woman arrested for making fake WhatsApp accounts

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested a woman accused of operating an illegal network involved in the creation and sale of fake WhatsApp accounts using unlawfully obtained activated mobile SIM cards.

The arrest was made on Wednesday following a complaint lodged by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

According to officials, the suspect, identified as Safia Afzal, a resident of Sahiwal, allegedly acquired activated SIM cards through illegal means and used them to create WhatsApp accounts, which were later sold to various individuals.

Investigators believe the operation was part of a larger organised network facilitating the misuse of digital identities, raising serious concerns over cybercrime, online fraud, and the unlawful use of mobile communication services.

NCCIA Investigation Officer Umme Salma said preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect was not acting alone.

"Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other facilitators and associates linked to the network," she said, adding that authorities are expanding the investigation to dismantle the entire operation.

During the raid, NCCIA officials recovered 310 active SIM cards belonging to different mobile network operators, along with a mobile phone allegedly used in the illegal activities. The recovered items have been taken into custody as evidence.

Officials confirmed that all digital devices and electronic evidence have been sent for forensic examination and technical analysis.

Investigators aim to determine the full scale of the network, trace financial transactions linked to the sale of fake accounts, analyse digital communication records, and identify other individuals who may have benefited from or participated in the scheme.