Inside Karachi’s alleged fraud call centre: Over 70 arrested in PECHS Block 6 raid

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Karachi has raided an alleged illegal call centre operating in the upscale PECHS

KARACHI: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Karachi has raided an alleged illegal call centre operating in the upscale PECHS Block 6 area and arrested more than 70 people suspected of being involved in an international fraud network targeting foreign nationals.

According to NCCIA officials, the operation was conducted after several days of surveillance and technical monitoring of the suspected call centre. The facility was allegedly operating under the appearance of a legitimate customer service or business process outsourcing (BPO) setup while reportedly being used to defraud individuals abroad.

Additional Director NCCIA Karachi Tariq Nawaz, who supervised the operation, confirmed that the raid was carried out in PECHS Block 6.

He said a large number of people were taken into custody during the operation after investigators found evidence of alleged illegal activities being conducted from the premises.

The official said more than 70 people had been detained and that investigators were questioning them to determine their individual roles in the suspected fraud network.

According to the NCCIA, those taken into custody include alleged owners of the call centre as well as agents, super agents and closers. Investigators believe the suspects were working within different levels of an organised setup allegedly designed to contact and deceive foreign nationals.

Officials said the suspects allegedly used cold calling and impersonation techniques to approach potential victims. The callers would reportedly present themselves as representatives of legitimate organisations or customer service operations in an attempt to gain the trust of individuals and obtain money or sensitive information.

The NCCIA is also examining the digital infrastructure used by the suspected operation. Officials said computers, headsets, calling scripts, data sheets and other material were recovered from the premises during the raid.

The seized electronic devices and documents are being examined forensically, with investigators attempting to establish how the alleged operation was organised and identify possible links with individuals and entities outside Pakistan.

An NCCIA official said that interrogation of the detained individuals was continuing and that investigators were working to determine the wider network behind the suspected call centre.

The agency is also examining financial records and transactions to trace any alleged money trail connected with the operation. Investigators are expected to look into bank accounts, digital payment channels and other financial arrangements that may have been used to receive or transfer proceeds from the alleged fraud.

Officials said the investigation has also been expanded to identify the owners or controllers of the property from which the call centre was allegedly operating, as well as any facilitators who may have assisted the network.

The raid is part of the NCCIA’s efforts to investigate cybercrime and alleged online fraud operations targeting individuals in Pakistan and abroad.

Further action against the detained suspects will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation, including the forensic examination of seized devices and other evidence recovered during the operation.