The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Punjab has arrested seven suspects, including three women, involved in an alleged fake trading call centre operating in a posh area of Lahore. The operation was carried out on the directions of NCCIA Punjab Director Muhammad Ali Waseem against an organised gang engaged in online investment scams and digital fraud. According to officials, the action was conducted on May 8 in connection with FIR No. 58/2026 registered at NCCIA Faisalabad under various sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and the Pakistan Penal Code.
The complainant, Khurram Ashfaq, the accused lured him into investing in a fake online trading application and fraudulently obtained Rs 2.779 million from him. The NCCIA team raided a call centre established in a posh locality of Lahore where the suspects were allegedly targeting citizens through fake investment and online trading schemes using WhatsApp, mobile phone calls, and social media platforms. The arrested suspects were identified as Ejaz Ahmad, Muhammad Abdullah, Akhlaq Ali, Muhammad Hamza, Fiza, Samreen, and Noreen, belonging to Lahore, Kasur, and Faisalabad. Initial investigations revealed that the gang contacted citizens through WhatsApp, phone calls, and social media, enticing them with lucrative investment offers before transferring the defrauded amounts into various bank accounts and digital wallets.
The spokesperson said the suspects had established a proper call centre where multiple individuals were engaged in trapping citizens through fake trading and investment schemes. During the raid, authorities recovered nine mobile phones, four computer systems, 415 fake active SIMs, 610 fake silicone thumbs, 56 ATM cards, and 13 biometric verification devices. SHO Amir Sultan WhatsApp chats, login records of betting and trading applications, usernames, passwords, and financial transaction details were also obtained from the seized mobile phones. NCCIA Director Muhammad Ali Waseem appreciated the performance of SHO and his team over the successful operation and announced commendation certificates and cash rewards for the officials involved.
