NCCIA sweeps Punjab in major cybercrime crackdown, 10 suspects arrested

During the crackdown, authorities registered multiple criminal cases in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan. Investigators also seized key digital evidence, including mobile

Lahore: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has intensified its campaign against cybercrime across Punjab, arresting 10 suspects in a series of coordinated raids targeting online fraud, blackmail, and digital exploitation. The province-wide operation was launched on the special directives of Director Operations Punjab, Muhammad Ali Waseem, as part of ongoing efforts to curb cyber-enabled crimes and safeguard the public.

During the crackdown, authorities registered multiple criminal cases in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan. Investigators also seized key digital evidence, including mobile phones, fake social media profiles, WhatsApp accounts, SIM cards, and other electronic devices believed to have been used in criminal activities. Further investigations are underway to identify and arrest additional suspects linked to the networks.

In Lahore, NCCIA registered two separate cases involving sophisticated online fraud schemes. In one incident, suspects allegedly posed as bank representatives and deceived citizens through fake loan offers. In another case, individuals impersonating visa consultants reportedly defrauded a complainant of more than PKR 1.35 million by promising overseas visa services.

Operations in Faisalabad led to the arrest of four suspects in separate cases. One suspect allegedly hacked a victim’s WhatsApp account after posing as a courier company representative and fraudulently obtained PKR 40,000. Authorities also detained an alleged accomplice connected to an organized financial fraud network. In another raid, officials arrested a suspect accused of illegally activating and selling SIM cards and JazzCash accounts, recovering a mobile phone during the operation. A separate arrest was made in a blackmail case in which a suspect allegedly threatened a citizen with explicit material and demanded PKR 500,000 in extortion.

Meanwhile, NCCIA teams in Multan arrested six suspects during two operations targeting online scam networks. The first raid dismantled a three-member group accused of using fake TikTok and other social media accounts to lure victims with fraudulent offers of financial assistance, visas, tax payments, and similar schemes. Investigators recovered multiple mobile phones, fake social media accounts, SIM cards, and WhatsApp accounts from the suspects.

In a separate operation, three more suspects were arrested for allegedly running fake prize, donation, and parcel scams through social media platforms. Authorities said mobile phones seized during the raids also contained objectionable videos, which have been taken into custody as evidence.

Director Operations Punjab Muhammad Ali Waseem reaffirmed NCCIA’s commitment to combating cybercrime and protecting citizens from online fraud, blackmail, fake social media activities, and other digital threats. He urged the public to immediately report suspicious online activities, financial scams, or cyber-related offences to the agency so swift legal action can be taken against those responsible.