Pakistan cybercrime crackdown: Man arrested over fake Saudi visa offers

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested a man in Faisalabad for allegedly deceiving citizens through a TikTok account advertising Saudi Arabian visas highlighting growing concerns over online financial fraud and fake overseas employment offers in Pakistan.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested a man in Faisalabad for allegedly deceiving citizens through a TikTok account advertising Saudi Arabian visas highlighting growing concerns over online financial fraud and fake overseas employment offers in Pakistan.

According to the agency, a case has been registered against the suspect who allegedly used fabricated documents and worked with other individuals to transfer money obtained through fraudulent activities into bank accounts. The NCCIA shared details of the arrest on Thursday October 22, 2026.

During the operation, investigators reportedly recovered two mobile phones, 10 allegedly fake SIM cards, an Easypaisa account and a merchant account suspected of being linked to the alleged scam. The investigation is expected to examine how the account was used to attract potential victims and collect payments.

NCCIA Director General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi warned that strict legal action would be taken against individuals exploiting social media platforms to deceive citizens under the pretext of overseas employment and visa arrangements. He urged people to verify visa offers before sending money and report suspicious social media accounts to the agency.

The case comes amid continuing concerns about cybercrime in Pakistan. According to the NCCIA’s 2026 statistics, financial fraud accounts for 48 per cent of all complaints received by the agency making it the most frequently reported category of cybercrime.

Authorities have also conducted other operations against suspected online fraud networks. On October 10, the NCCIA arrested 281 suspects including 21 foreign nationals and 20 women, during raids on seven allegedly illegal call centres in Lahore. These centres were suspected of involvement in financial fraud online harassment and honey-trapping.

In a separate operation in September the NCCIA and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested six suspects across Punjab over alleged involvement in cyber fraud financial scams illegal currency exchange and human trafficking.

The latest arrest serves as a reminder for job seekers and people seeking overseas travel opportunities to exercise caution when dealing with visa advertisements online. Authorities advise citizens to verify the authenticity of offers and avoid transferring money to unverified individuals or accounts.

The allegations against the arrested suspect have not been established as proven facts.