ISLAMABAD – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a fresh investigation into an alleged Rs172 billion fraud and money laundering case involving a network of call centres suspected of deceiving victims and transferring illicit funds through multiple financial channels.
The agency has formed a nine-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to conduct a comprehensive probe into the case, which first came under scrutiny nearly two years ago.
Initial findings suggest that the suspected network allegedly used call centres to carry out fraudulent schemes and collect billions of rupees from victims. Investigators suspect that around Rs172 billion generated through the alleged fraud was subsequently channelled through different accounts as part of a money laundering operation.
The financial trail is now being examined to establish how the funds were collected, transferred between accounts and allegedly moved outside Pakistan.
The investigators are also looking into transactions involving bank and microfinance accounts that were allegedly used to move the money. The JIT will seek to identify the account holders, beneficiaries and other individuals who may have facilitated the transactions.
The renewed probe will also examine the operation of the suspected call centres and determine the identities and roles of those allegedly running or supporting the network.
The authorities are further investigating whether any government officials had links to the suspected operation or provided assistance that enabled the network to function without detection.
The case originally surfaced after investigators detected a suspected call-centre fraud network. The latest development has prompted authorities to reopen and broaden the inquiry in an effort to establish the full scale of the alleged financial crime.
The JIT will trace the suspected proceeds, examine their movement through formal financial channels and determine whether any funds were transferred abroad through banking systems or other mechanisms.
Investigators will also establish whether the alleged network operated independently or received support from insiders or public officials.
Any involvement of government employees or other individuals will be determined on the basis of evidence collected during the investigation.
