NCCIA receives over 10,000 cybercrime complaints in 53 days

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) received a total of 10,386 cybercrime complaints over the past 53 days, according to official figures.

Following the complaints, the agency registered 6,672 inquiries and has so far filed 442 cases related to various cybercrime incidents. A total of 1,749 suspects have been arrested during operations against cybercrime.

Authorities also recovered more than Rs149.8 million during various operations.

Meanwhile, the Cyber Patrolling Unit completed the technical analysis of 4,530 URLs and referred 1,186 illegal web links to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for blocking.

As part of a crackdown against illegal call centres, authorities conducted 59 raids in different areas, resulting in the registration of 43 cases.

A total of 973 suspects allegedly involved in illegal call centre operations were arrested. During the raids, law enforcement agencies also seized 15,502 various items.

Read more: Karachi has up to 350 scam call centres, says NCCIA official

Additionally, 211 foreign nationals were arrested during the crackdown on illegal call centres.

Earlier, Additional Director Shahzad Akbar said around 300 to 350 skimming and scam call centres were operating in Karachi, adding that the NCCIA had decided not to give any concession to those involved in such activities.

The additional director said the agency had taken action against one of three major companies operating in the sector. He added that the same company had also faced action in the past.

The NCCIA official said young people who should be receiving education were being employed in these call centres. He added that local residents and retired people had also been targeted in the fraud.

Shahzad Akbar said the agency had seized 329 laptops, each containing fake IDs and credit card details. He said people holding credit cards were being deceived through different offers and their accounts were emptied through fraudulent schemes.