The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has achieved major success in a nationwide crackdown against cyber fraud and honey-trap networks, detaining several suspects. According to NCCIA officials, the agency raided a call centre allegedly involved in looting citizens through honey traps and arrested 17 women along with nine other people allegedly involved in cyber fraud.Thirty-five mobile phones and two laptops were also recovered from the women.

Initial investigations revealed that the women allegedly trapped innocent citizens and men through social media and online platforms, blackmailed them through video calls and obtained illicit financial benefits. Meanwhile, the NCCIA also conducted another raid in Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Town, where another call centre was allegedly being operated illegally to target foreign nationals through online fraud. Agency officials said indiscriminate action would continue under a zero-tolerance policy against elements involved in cybercrime, blackmail and honey traps to prevent digital platforms from being used for criminal activities.

On the other hand, the NCCIA’s Rawalpindi Circle exposed an international cyber-fraud network and arrested several suspects. A raid was conducted at the Abbasi call centre in a private housing society on Chakri Road, Rawalpindi, where the alleged international fraud operation was being conducted. Initial investigations revealed that the suspects targeted Australian citizens through fake Telegram profiles and defrauded them of lakhs of rupees by luring them into completing fake YouTube tasks and investing in USDT cryptocurrency.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)