The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Lahore Zone has dismantled two illegal call centres running an international mobile telecom scam, arresting 12 suspects, including two women, and seizing 28 digital devices.
Officials said the suspects targeted citizens in Canada, the United States and other countries by posing as representatives of Rogers, Bell, Telus and AT&T. They allegedly offered phone upgrades, network packages and SIM deals to obtain financial information from the victims, which was then used in illegal transactions and carding fraud.
The raids were carried out on “Solution Hub” in Batapur and “Task Taker” in Punjab Housing Society after the agency received credible information and obtained search warrants from a competent court. Additional Director Atif Amir led both operations and was present on site with the teams.
Six men and one woman were arrested at the first location: Arsala Tahir, Muhammad Sameer Tahir, Hussain Rizwan, Abdul Rehman, Umar Khalid, Syed Ali Murtaza and Sohaib Ali. Four men and one woman were detained at the second: Ayesha Muzammil, Moazzam Sultan, Zain Ashraf, Zain and Muhammad Faisal.
The seized items include 13 laptops, two desktop computers and 13 mobile phones. Initial checks found dial-up software used to call victims abroad, along with related data. The devices have been sent for forensic analysis.
Cases have been registered against the suspects, and investigations are continuing. Atif Amir said the agency will continue action against illegal call centres, international telecom fraud and misuse of citizens’ financial information without discrimination, in accordance with the law.
Yesterday, the NCCIA announced the arrest of 273 people in a raid on a call centre on Sharea Faisal in Karachi in connection with an alleged international financial fraud network. The operation was carried out on Nov 4 at premises near Kavish Crown Plaza. Investigators seized 339 laptops, 152 cell phones and four computers.
According to NCCIA Additional Director Shahzad Akbar, the call centre operated under the name Voxtron Solutions. Preliminary findings indicate that it targeted foreign nationals through impersonation, identity misuse and caller ID spoofing under the pretext of providing debt validation services.
Staff allegedly posed as representatives of foreign banks and debt validation service providers. They contacted people abroad and offered to verify their outstanding financial obligations.
Akbar said investigators have “reasonable grounds” to suspect the scheme was designed to obtain sensitive personal and financial information, including Social Security Numbers and payment card credentials.
