In a major crackdown on cyber fraud, Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested 149 individuals during a raid on a scam call centre operating in Faisalabad. The raid followed a tip-off regarding an organized network involved in Ponzi schemes and fraudulent investment offers.
According to the NCCIA, the call centre deceived victims by promising lucrative returns on small initial investments and later pushing them to invest larger sums. The suspects lured people via WhatsApp and eventually moved them to Telegram groups for more complex investment scams. Tasks included subscribing to TikTok and YouTube channels under the pretense of earning money.
Among the arrested were 78 Pakistanis, 48 Chinese nationals, eight Nigerians, four Filipinos, six Bangladeshis, two Sri Lankans, two Myanmar nationals, and one Zimbabwean. The agency confirmed that 18 of those detained were women.
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Victims reportedly lost significant amounts of money. One Pakistani, Muhammad Sajid, shared that he invested over Rs. 3.1 million (approximately $36,600) after being convinced by the company’s large Telegram group and digital engagement.
Authorities seized hundreds of computers, cryptocurrency wallets, foreign SIM cards, and servers during the operation. The centre was based at the residence of Malik Tehseen Awan, a former Faisalabad power grid official who remains at large.
Of the suspects, 87 were sent on a five-day physical remand to the NCCIA, while 62 were moved to district jail on judicial remand until July 23.
