LAHORE: The NCCIA fake call centre crackdown intensified in Lahore after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency arrested seven suspects allegedly involved in online investment and financial fraud schemes targeting citizens through WhatsApp calls, social media platforms and fake trading applications.
Muhammad Ali Waseem, NCCIA Punjab Director, confirmed this raid on Tuesday and said that such raids against online investment scam gangs have been initiated by the agency in Punjab.
The group operated an entire call center facility with professional look and operators who actively enticed their victims to join the false investment program. They contacted their target investors via WhatsApp messages, direct phone calls, and even social networking sites, where they promised huge profits through online trading.
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After arousing the interest of the victims, the culprits would point them towards a fake trading website application. The syndicate then moved the victims’ cash to a series of bank accounts and electronic wallets controlled by them, rendering them virtually untraceable. This exercise is clearly a case of planned and well-thought-out fraud. This is evident in the fact that the culprits had already made significant investments to defraud citizens on a massive scale.
Suspects Named and Charged
Seven persons were arrested in this raid by NCCIA Punjab, and they are named Ejaz Ahmed, Muhammad Abdullah, Akhlaq Ali, Muhammad Hamza, Fiza, Samreen, and Noreen. Seven individuals have been legally charged with various sections of PECA 2016 and PPC.
The scale of evidence recovered during the raid underscores just how systematically the gang executed its fraud. Investigators seized:
- 9 mobile phones
- 4 computer systems
- 415 fake active SIM cards
- 610 fake silicone thumb impressions
- 56 ATM cards
- 13 biometric verification devices
The fact that there are silicone thumb prints, along with biometric devices, indicates that the criminals used false identities, which was an illegal activity on their part that allowed them to act anonymously and perpetrate frauds.
Victim Loses Over Rs 2.7 Million
The case of Khurram Ashfaq proved to be genuine in that he was swindled to lose his hard-earned money worth Rs 2,779,501 due to the suspects’ fraudulent trading application. The situation shows the effect these fraud cases have on the finances of normal Pakistani people.
This particular arrest is a step taken by NCCIA Punjab in their escalating effort to crack down on cybercrime networks operating throughout the province. Citizens have been advised to ensure the authenticity of any investment scheme online prior to making payments, steer clear of any unsolicited WhatsApp or social media-based investment proposals, and contact the NCCIA directly if they spot anything suspicious.
Online investment scams are rapidly increasing within Pakistan as these criminal groups take advantage of the rising number of smartphones and low levels of digital literacy among citizens. If you received a suspicious investment offer or believe you are a victim of online financial fraud, contact NCCIA Punjab immediately.
