The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency has detained 28 suspects across Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan in a crackdown on a widening online fraud network that targets citizens through impersonation and fake claims, recovering devices and evidence linked to millions of rupees in losses.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency has detained 28 people in raids across Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan in what it described as a widening operation against a fraud network accused of extracting money from citizens through impersonation and fake online claims.
According to the agency, officers recovered 24 mobile phones and a laptop while they examined evidence tied to financial losses worth millions of rupees. Investigators said the suspects allegedly posed as relatives, visa agents, bank staff, government officials and Pakistanis living overseas to win trust and pressure victims into sending money.
In Lahore, 18 suspects were arrested. The agency said one victim was allegedly tricked out of Rs2.586 million after suspects claimed to be both a relative and a visa agent. It also said other suspects impersonated a deputy director and officials from the Punjab Safe Cities Authority to obtain large sums from people. In Faisalabad, three men were arrested in connection with online trading fraud and unauthorised access to a company email account. Investigators said one victim lost Rs5.466 million after being shown fake screenshots of trading balances, wallets and profits.
Seven more suspects were arrested in Multan, where the agency said the group allegedly posed as a UK-based person, a bank employee or a relative to collect money on the pretext of prize winnings, customs charges, taxes and visa renewal. The NCCIA said forensic checks were continuing on the seized devices and that financial records, call logs and other evidence were being reviewed to identify more suspects and possible links to a broader network. Recent reporting by other Pakistani outlets has shown a similar pattern in the agency’s earlier crackdowns this summer, including arrests over WhatsApp scams, fake government identities and parcel-clearance fraud.
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