Cybercrime Agency Raids Illegal Call Centre in Islamabad, Arrests Five Foreign Nationals

According to a press release issued on Monday, the raid took place late Sunday night at a premises located in Sardar Plaza, G-10 Markaz, Islamabad. The agency stated that over 60 individuals were working in the call centre at the time, including five foreign nationals who were taken into custody.

An inquiry into the case revealed that the call centre was operating under the guise of a fake online earning company. Individuals involved were found to be impersonating as representatives of this dubious enterprise, targeting both Pakistani and international victims. The scam revolved around a “task-based” earning model that ultimately led to significant financial losses for those deceived.

The FIR, registered by complainant Aamir Azeem Abbasi, stated that the accused used AI-generated images and fake social media personas to initiate contact with vulnerable individuals through platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram. These victims were then manipulated into participating in fraudulent money-making schemes.

“The accused persons could not provide any lawful justification for their operations and have confessed to carrying out electronic fraud through impersonation and extortion,” the FIR noted.

According to investigators, the gang had a multi-tier structure:

• Initial Scammers: Responsible for engaging victims online.

• Telegram Receptionists: Gathered and processed victims’ data.

• Finance Managers: Managed the inflow of scam proceeds through cryptocurrency wallets.

• International ‘Killers’: Operatives based abroad, including in Cambodia, who allegedly drained victims’ bank accounts.

Digital equipment used in executing the scam has been seized by NCCIA officials. The agency confirmed further legal action against individuals and organizations that facilitated or provided protection to the perpetrators.

A spokesperson for the NCCIA reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on cybercrime, stating, “We will continue to identify, investigate, and dismantle all such networks operating within or beyond Pakistan’s borders.”

Recent Crackdown on Online Fraud

This raid follows a series of successful operations carried out by the NCCIA over the past few months:

• Faisalabad Raid (last week): 149 suspects, including 48 Chinese nationals and several others, were arrested from a cyber-fraud factory. Among them, 87 were remanded to NCCIA custody, while 62 were sent to judicial remand.

• Karachi Operation (last month): 18 suspects were detained for their alleged role in a high-profile online scam. They were remanded for further investigation.

• Joint Operation in May: In collaboration with the FBI and Dutch police, the NCCIA arrested 21 suspects in Multan and Lahore involved in multimillion-dollar digital fraud operations.

As online scams become more complex and global, the NCCIA continues to strengthen its partnerships with international law enforcement bodies and bolster its capabilities to counter digital threats.

The Islamabad operation is being hailed as another significant success in Pakistan’s ongoing fight against cybercrime, sending a strong message to fraudsters operating under the illusion of anonymity in the digital space.