Online fraud racket busted in Faisalabad; 149 nabbed

FAISALABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), acting on a tip-off, has conducted a raid, in collaboration with a sister agency, on the residence of Malik Tasheen Awan, former chairman Fesco, on the Sangla Hill Road, Shahkot, Faisalabad.

According to the NCCIA, the authorities uncovered a large-scale call centre engaged in a Ponzi scheme. The fraudulent network was deceiving the public and amassing huge sums of money through fake investment opportunities and digital scams.

The operation led to the arrest of 149 individuals caught red-handed, including foreign nationals. Among those arrested were 131 men and 18 women. Following the registration of FIRs, all suspects were taken into custody. The foreign nationals arrested in the operation include individuals from China (44 men, 4 women), Nigeria (3 men, 5 women), the Philippines (1 man, 3 women), Sri Lanka (1 man, 1 woman), Bangladesh (6 men), Zimbabwe (1 woman), and Myanmar (2 women). The remaining suspects are 76 Pakistani nationals and two women.

A total of seven FIRs (No 141 to 147) have been registered against the network, and the arrested individuals face multiple charges related to financial fraud and deception.

According to NCCIA officials, the accused targeted unsuspecting individuals— mostly overseas Pakistanis —by luring them into fake online investment schemes through social media messages.

During the raid, a large number of computers, electronic and digital devices, servers, and other equipment were seized from the call center. When CPO Sahibzada Umar Bilal was questioned regarding whether permission was granted for the stay of the foreign nationals, he responded that this is an NCCIA case and the police have no role in it.