FIA busts inter-provincial online fraud network

Ringleader ran 10 fraud gangs nationwide

LAHORE:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has dismantled an inter-provincial network involved in online fraud.

The agency arrested the ringleader, who was operating 10 different fraud gangs simultaneously.

The leader provided bank account numbers to various fraud gangs involved in online financial scams.

The gang used spoofing technology to deceive citizens by impersonating bank representatives, police inspectors, and visa agents.

They tricked individuals into falling for their schemes by notifying them over the phone of a fake relative's arrest and demanding money for their release.

Online fraud has become a rapidly growing industry in the country, with new methods emerging daily. The increasing skill of fraudsters in this digital age has left law enforcement agencies struggling to keep up.

The actions of these online scammers, who can empty bank accounts within seconds, are more terrifying than traditional robberies or thefts.

These gangs also hack phone numbers linked to bank accounts and collect money from friends and relatives under false pretences.

The FIA Cyber Crime Circle in Multan arrested the central figure of the inter-provincial fraud gang, Mohammad Shariq. The suspect was apprehended in a raid in Dunyapur.

Shariq had been running the fraud network, supplying bank account numbers to different gangs. This gang used spoofing technology to carry out financial fraud, with Shariq managing hundreds of fake microfinance accounts simultaneously.

He employed cloned apps to create up to 50 fake accounts per phone.

Initial investigations revealed that Shariq had been running more than 10 fraud gangs for the past three years. The money obtained from the frauds was deposited into accounts controlled by him, and he would withdraw amounts ranging from Rs600,000 to Rs1 million daily. The proceeds were then distributed among other members of the gang.

Overall, Shariq had fraudulently obtained more than 40 million rupees.

Two mobile phones were recovered from Shariq's possession, revealing thousands of transaction details. Videos related to the transfer of funds were also found on his phones. The gang used vehicles to transport the fraud proceeds. They posed as bank representatives, police officers, and visa agents to deceive their victims. In some cases, they used international phone numbers to carry out their scams.

The gang would also gain unauthorized access to victims' bank accounts with the help of accomplices, depleting their savings. An investigation has begun with Shariq in custody, and efforts are underway to apprehend other members of the gang.