KARACHI – Over a dozen foreign nationals and nearly 20 Pakistani citizens were detained during a dramatic raid on an illegal call center in DHA Phase 6, Karachi. The arrests came after intelligence-led operations by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and allied security agencies.
Speaking at presser with NCCIA Deputy Director Tariq Nawaz, Sindh interior minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjhar revealed that the suspects, including two women, were running massive Ponzi scheme targeting overseas investors, luring them with promises of high-return investments. Preliminary investigations suggest that the operation involved nearly $60 million in transactions, with stolen funds moved in Bitcoin and US dollars.
The crackdown exposed growing trend Pakistan’s major cities, like Karachi, are hotbeds for illegal call centers, fueling financial crimes both locally and internationally. Officials warned that such operations not only harm Pakistan’s reputation but also threaten diplomatic relations with other countries.
Evidence recovered during raids was staggering including three dozen computers, 40 mobile phones and over 10,000 SIM cards.
Minister stressed government’s zero-tolerance approach: “Anyone involved in crime, local or foreign, will face action. It’s not written on anyone’s forehead, but evidence will decide the course.” He assured that foreign nationals in Pakistan would receive proper protocol, but there would be no impunity for those involved in fraud.
NCCIA officials also highlighted cross-border nature of cybercrime, saying Telegram app was being used to run scams and that crime knows no borders. He confirmed that arrests occurred in DHA Phase 1, Phase 6, and Ittehad, and investigations are ongoing to dismantle the entire international network, including facilitators and accomplices.
The operation also uncovered sensitive data linking the suspects to a broader criminal network, prompting further legal actions. Officials warned that thousands of victims have suffered enormous financial losses due to this sophisticated Ponzi scheme.
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