61 arrested by NCCIA in call centre fraud in Rawalpindi

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) says it has arrested 61 people during a raid on an alleged illegal call centre in Rawalpindi.

The operation was carried out at a call centre in the Commercial Market area of Satellite Town, according to an NCCIA spokesperson.

Officials said they recovered 71 mobile phones and 155 laptops from the premises during the raid.

The agency alleges that those arrested were involved in an international fraud operation linked to a foreign loan recovery scheme.

According to the NCCIA, the suspects allegedly threatened people and extorted money from them.

A case has been registered and an investigation is under way.

The agency said illegal call centres posed a serious threat to Pakistan’s reputation and that it would continue taking action against those involved in cybercrime.

The NCCIA has urged members of the public to report suspected cybercrime through its helpline on 1799 or by contacting their nearest NCCIA circle.

The allegations have not been tested in court, and the suspects are entitled to due process.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has issued guidelines for citizens who want to file cybercrime cases.

The agency shared important instructions on social media about the information people should provide when filing a complaint.

The NCCIA said citizens should submit relevant evidence when reporting a cybercrime.

For cases linked to social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and X, complainants should provide screenshots of the alleged crime.

The screenshots can help the agency understand the issue and investigate the complaint.

The NCCIA also advised citizens to share other important details with their complaints.

These may include contact numbers, transaction details and other relevant information linked to the case.

The agency said providing complete information can help it take quick and effective action on cybercrime complaints.