The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested an international hacker in Karachi for allegedly stealing bank records of more than 5 million foreign citizens, officials said.
Authorities said the suspect was traced through advanced digital forensics, and high tech equipment along with sensitive financial data was recovered during the raid.
The accused is alleged to have hacked bank accounts, credit card details and other highly sensitive financial information belonging to foreign nationals. Investigators said the stolen data was used in large scale financial fraud and was intended for sale on the dark web.
The operation was launched after foreign agencies and Pakistan security institutions detected signs of a major international data breach. Using advanced digital forensic tools and cyber intelligence techniques, the NCCIA traced the suspect digital footprint to a secret location in Karachi, where a surprise raid led to the arrest.
Officials said the suspect had been targeting international financial institutions and foreign nationals through sophisticated cyberattacks, causing financial losses worth millions of dollars.
During the raid, investigators seized high performance computer systems, international servers, encrypted hard drives and other digital equipment.
The recovered evidence includes banking information belonging to more than 5 million foreign citizens, which officials believe was being exploited for financial fraud and illegal transactions on the dark web.
The suspect remains in custody and is undergoing interrogation. Investigators said the probe is ongoing and further arrests are expected as officials work to identify other members of the alleged cybercrime network. Officials indicated that more significant revelations could emerge as the investigation progresses.
