Illegal call centres run largely by foreign nationals were used to carry out an alleged Rs172 billion fraud, with the proceeds moved out of the country through cryptocurrency, officials told the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) briefed the committee on the case.
The FIA said the operators registered their companies with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) before carrying out the fraud. Both Chinese and Pakistani nationals were involved.
The NCCIA said citizens of China, Vietnam, Myanmar and other countries are involved in the illegal call centres. Foreigners control the companies and hold most of the shares, while Pakistanis are employed as staff.
The agency told the committee that the call centres defraud foreigners, not Pakistanis.
The FIA said investigating such cases requires technical experts, who are available at the NCCIA. Officials added that recoveries have been made from some call centres and the money returned to victims.
