NCCIA arrests suspect in alleged $126 million US postage stamp fraud

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore has arrested a key suspect accused of selling counterfeit US postage stamps online in a fraud allegedly worth Rs35 billion, or approximately $126 million.

The suspect, identified as Faheem Akram and reportedly hailing from Khanewal, was arrested following a 10-day operation, NCCIA Additional Director Atif Ameer said at a press conference in Lahore on Tuesday. A case has been registered against him, while investigators are continuing to examine the financial transactions and identify other individuals allegedly involved in the network.

According to the NCCIA official, Akram allegedly created a fake website that bypassed the US Postal Service’s payment system and enabled the online sale of more than five million counterfeit postage stamps. The alleged operation continued for approximately three years, from August 2023 to September 2026.

Investigators have also discovered that the suspect allegedly used 16 bank accounts to facilitate the transactions. These reportedly included accounts belonging to his brother, wife, sister and maternal aunt.

Ameer said eight specialised teams were formed to investigate the case across Punjab, Islamabad and Sindh. The teams conducted raids at 35 locations and questioned 47 people as part of the investigation.

Investigators also analysed 122 call records, 50 International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) tracking reports, footage from 120 surveillance cameras and audio recordings. A 10-day location-tracking operation was also conducted to trace the suspect, the official added.

The NCCIA has formed eight dedicated teams to examine the financial trail, determine the extent of the alleged fraud and investigate the roles of other people who may have assisted the suspect.

The arrest follows criminal charges reportedly filed against Akram in Florida earlier this month over an alleged scheme that caused the US Postal Service losses of approximately $126 million.

According to the US Attorney’s Office website, the suspect allegedly sold postage stamps through a fraudulent website at a flat rate of $2 per stamp, regardless of the weight of the package or its destination. The price was significantly lower than the standard postage charges of the US Postal Service.

The alleged scheme involved the sale of approximately 5.1 million counterfeit stamps. US investigators estimate that around 5,200 people purchased the stamps through the website to ship their packages, resulting in substantial losses for the American postal service.

The US Postal Inspection Service had announced a reward of $100,000 for information leading to the suspect’s arrest. The agency had also emphasised that it would pursue individuals accused of defrauding the US Postal Service, regardless of whether they operated beyond American borders.

If convicted, Akram could face up to five years in prison on a conspiracy charge, another five years for counterfeiting postage stamps and up to 20 years for wire fraud, according to US media reports. The potential penalties would depend on the charges and the outcome of the legal proceedings.

The case involves an alleged international cyber and financial fraud operation, with authorities in Pakistan investigating the suspect’s local financial dealings while US officials pursue the allegations concerning losses to the American postal system.