FIA apprehends suspects robbing people on OLX in Karachi

Gang of robbers used to 'sell cars', run away with advance payments

KARACHI: A gang using the online classifieds company, OLX, to rob citizens was busted during a joint raid by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) on Friday.

The five-member gang would upload bogus advertisements for selling cars on the OLX website, make contact with potential buyers and make off with the down-payments.



FIA officials said the suspects hailed from Punjab and were operating in Karachi since last year during which they had cheated hundreds of people. "They [gang members] used to fix cheap prices for their cars that attracted buyers," said the FIA spokesperson. "They took the buyer to a car showroom in the city and locked the deals there by demanding prices much lower than the market rates. After finalising the deal, they took 10% to 20% as down-payment and then vanished."

The official explained that showroom owners had no idea the group was using their premises for the purpose of cheating people and mistook them as potential customers. Those who were robbed would then arrive at the showrooms and demand the return of their money.

An official of FIA's Cybercrime Circle told The Express Tribune that the CPLC received a complaint from one of the affected persons which they then forwarded to the FIA. The cybercrime wing then identified the culprits with the help of CCTV footage from a bank and traced a bank account.



FIA officials said the suspects were arrested during separate raids. Two were nabbed from Korangi, two from Surjani and one from Liaquatabad. Three of the suspects have been identified as Azam Rahman Butt, Irfan Bashir and Muneer Khan. Cases were registered against them while further investigation was is under way.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th,  2016.