FIA arrests conman for blackmailing people

Ringleader of gang used to introduce himself as senior official

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Cell has arrested a man allegedly involved in impersonating as high-ranking officers on different posts to blackmail and fleece people.

Accused Obaidur Rehman was operating a gang in connivance with his wife Nusrat Nasim, sister Nimra Aziz alias Nimra Gillani and other persons to blackmail people, including officers of different government departments.

The ringleader used to introduce himself as an army officer or director general or other senior official of the Federal Investigation Agency.

Obaid minted money and benefits from government officers. He also got an SHO appointed at a police station by directing a high-ranking police official to implement his order. The accused used an app to make phone calls to officials and other people through which his phone number did not appear on mobile phones that received his calls.

The women of the gang frequently used to chat with people to develop relations and then blackmailed them. Interestingly, the accused also extorted millions of rupees from a National Highway Authority (NHA) official.

Following a complaint by Syed Waqar Ali Shah, the FIA constituted a raiding team and arrested the conman from a house located near Raiwind Road. Three mobile phones were seized from the accused. Obaid had fleeced the complainant of Rs4 million.

“The alleged Facebook account of Amna Noor was found active in a mobile phone and a software, ‘Telz’, found installed wherein several audio recordings were stored. Obaid used to make phone calls to different high-ranking officers by changing his voice and direct them to follow his orders.

Moreover, a list of phone numbers of government departments, personal pictures of senior officers and notifications of various departments were also found stored in the mobile phones.

During the investigation, it transpired that multiple Facebook accounts were being operated by his wife and sister to blackmail people.

Talking to The Express Tribune, FIA Cybercrime Director Abdur Rab confirmed the arrest of the gang’s mastermind. He said the matter was being probed, claiming that those found involved in cybercrimes would not be spared at any cost.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2020.