NCCIA arrests 281 suspects in raids on seven illegal call centers

LAHORE, Oct 09 (APP):National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Additional Director Atif Ameer on Friday said that 281 suspects, including 21 foreign nationals, had been arrested during a week-long crackdown on seven illegal call centers in Lahore over alleged financial fraud, online harassment and honey-trapping.

Addressing a press conference, he said the arrested suspects included 260 Pakistanis and 21 foreigners, comprising 12 Chinese, five Filipinos, two Vietnamese, one Malaysian and one Nepali national. Twenty women were also among those arrested.

The agency seized 362 mobile phones, 191 computer systems, 74 laptops, 127 other digital devices and 550 SIM cards during the operations, adding that the equipment was being examined forensically.

Atif Ameer said three suspects — Hassan Akram, Muhammad Faizan Ahmed and Ammar — had been arrested in separate cases involving objectionable material related to children. Hassan Akram was accused of sharing such material, Faizan Ahmed of uploading it, and Ammar of disseminating it through WhatsApp groups.

He said the agency was using artificial intelligence and working with international organizations to improve the detection of online crimes against children. With the help of artificial intelligence, a suspect had been identified in Gujranwala and subsequently arrested, he added.

The additional director said the agency was also pursuing cases involving online harassment, blackmail and the alleged exploitation of women. Safdar Hussain had been arrested for allegedly inducing women to create objectionable material on the promise of marriage, while a suspect named Zaheer was accused of blackmailing a woman using her private photographs obtained from a stolen mobile phone.

He also confirmed the arrest of another suspect from Farooqabad, Sheikhupura, on Thursday night.

Regarding financial fraud, Atif Ameer said the agency had recovered Rs19.246 million in five cases and 10 inquiries involving transactions through JazzCash, Easypaisa and bank accounts. Investigations into the cases were under way, he added.

Responding to a question about Pakistan cricket team player Muhammad Rizwan, he said the player had submitted his mobile phone for forensic examination and the relevant facts would emerge after the analysis.

He said the NCCIA had also been assigned responsibilities related to money laundering and was strengthening its capacity to deal with emerging cybercrime methods. Explaining the case-registration process, he said an inquiry was completed and approval obtained from the relevant committee before a case was registered.

Atif said the NCCIA Lahore Zone was holding open courts three days a week to address public complaints. He reiterated that legal action would continue against those involved in cybercrime, financial fraud, child exploitation, online harassment and other illegal digital activities.