NCCIA arrests 30 suspects in Karachi call centre raid

KARACHI: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has raided an illegally operated call centre near Metropole in Karachi and taken more than 30 suspects into custody for their alleged involvement in an international fraud network, officials said on Wednesday.

According to NCCIA officials, the call centre was allegedly being used for fraudulent activities targeting foreign citizens. The suspects reportedly posed as representatives of US banks and obtained sensitive financial information from foreign nationals before allegedly transferring funds from their bank cards into accounts controlled by the suspects.

During the raid, NCCIA officials seized a large number of mobile phones, laptops, other digital devices, data and bank cards from the premises.

The suspects are being interrogated as investigators seek to identify other individuals allegedly involved in the international fraud network.

The Karachi operation comes days after a similar crackdown in Lahore. On October 4, the NCCIA arrested 36 suspects during raids on illegal call centres in Faisal Town and Johar Town that were allegedly targeting foreign nationals, according to the agency.

The NCCIA spokesperson said the suspects in Lahore were allegedly using dialling software to defraud citizens abroad. A large number of computers, laptops and mobile phones were recovered during the raids, while officials said the seized devices contained software and data allegedly linked to fraudulent activities.

NCCIA arrests 36 suspects in crackdown on illegal call centres in Lahore

The agency also traced another illegal call centre after conducting a raid at one of the locations. The NCCIA team completed the operation at the second site despite resistance from security personnel.

Several vehicles allegedly purchased with proceeds from criminal activities were also taken into custody during the Lahore operation.

The NCCIA said further investigations are underway to determine the full scope of the alleged fraud networks and identify additional suspects.