NCCIA arrests three in honey-trap, cyber blackmail

LAHORE, Aug 12 (APP):The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Lahore arrested three suspects in Multan for their alleged involvement in a honey-trap and cyber blackmail network on Wednesday.

According to an NCCIA spokesperson, the suspects allegedly used fake identities on social media to establish contact with citizens and subsequently blackmailed them to extort large sums of money.

Acting on a tip-off, an NCCIA Lahore team raided a house in Basti Saleh Mahaye, Nawabpur Road, Multan, and arrested Dil Hasan, Umar Saeed and Umair Hasan.

The spokesperson said the suspects allegedly befriended people through fake social media profiles and later shifted conversations to WhatsApp, where they made video calls and obtained private photographs and videos. The material was subsequently allegedly used to blackmail victims.

During the investigation, it emerged that the suspects had allegedly received millions of rupees from victims through the same mode of operation. Evidence relating to financial transactions and transfer of money has also been incorporated into the investigation.

Three mobile phones were recovered during the operation. Preliminary forensic examination of the devices revealed multiple WhatsApp accounts, photographs, videos and other digital evidence, which was being further analysed.

The spokesperson said the names of Muhammad Farhan, Sohail alias Lolly, Zahid Haraj and Shahid Haraj, among others, had also emerged during interrogation. Their alleged roles in the network were being investigated.

Further investigation was underway to trace other members of the network, the social media accounts used for the alleged offences, financial transactions and possible victims.

Punjab NCCIA Director Muhammad Ali Wasim said operations against elements involved in honey-trapping and cyber blackmail would be further intensified and all those found involved in such offences would be dealt with in accordance with the law.