In a major crackdown, Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) carried out a Faisalabad scam centre raid, arresting 149 suspects — including 71 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese — linked to a large-scale fraudulent call centre operating illegal Ponzi schemes and investment scams.
The Faisalabad-based operation, triggered by an intelligence tip-off, exposed a highly organized cyber fraud network using WhatsApp to lure victims with minor investment tasks, then shifting them to Telegram channels for larger monetary scams. Victims were deceived into believing they would earn profits by completing simple social media engagements.
Those arrested include 78 Pakistanis and individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Among them, 18 were women. According to police reports, at least seven FIRs have been registered, and 71 suspects have already been produced in court under cybercrime and penal codes involving bank fraud and hacking.
Authorities also recovered mobile phones, SIM cards, laptops, and transaction records, reinforcing Pakistan’s growing crackdown on online financial crime. The NCCIA emphasized that the Faisalabad scam centre raid reflects ongoing efforts to protect citizens from digital exploitation and financial abuse.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 10th, 2025
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