11 arrested for cyber fraud

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Lahore arrested 11 suspects related to cyber fraud and illegal call centres, seizing 13 laptops, six mobile phones, six computers and digital data allegedly used in fraudulent activities.

According to the agency, the action was taken against groups allegedly involved in obtaining citizens' financial information by posing as bank and other services representatives and operating illegal call centres.

In a case involving an alleged fraud of around Rs1 million, the agency arrested Muhammad Aslam, Huzaifa, Abdul Rauf, Jan Muhammad, Asghar and Umar Usman. The suspects allegedly posed as bank managers to contact citizens and persuaded them to open accounts, which were allegedly used to withdraw proceeds from fraudulent transactions. Two mobile phones were seized from them.

From an alleged illegal call centre in Gulberg, officials arrested Ahsan Rizwan, Muhammad Ahmed and Irfan Khalid. Eight laptops and three mobile phones were seized.

Preliminary examination of the devices revealed VoIP software, credit and debit card information and phone data, the agency said.