Pakistanis Lose Rs 8.2bn To Cyber Fraud – Alarming Disclosure In Senate

ISLAMABAD : In a shocking disclosure, it has been revealed that Pakistanis have lost more than *Rs 8.32 billion* to cyber fraud in the last three years.

The alarming figures were presented by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency *(NCCIA)* before the Senate Human Rights Committee.

*Key Figures Presented To The Committee:*

– *Total Complaints:* 227,757 complaints of cyber fraud were registered in three years.
– *Total Loss:* Citizens suffered a financial loss of *Rs 8.32 billion*.
– *Cases Registered:* Out of these complaints, only 2,407 FIRs/cases could be formally registered.
– *Arrests:* 3,082 suspected fraudsters were arrested during operations.
– *Recovery:* Out of Rs 8.32 billion, only *Rs 2.86 billion* could be recovered and returned to victims. This means almost *65% of the looted money is still gone.*

*What is happening in 2026?*

NCCIA officials told the committee that online fraud is increasing rapidly. In the current year 2026 alone, people have lost more than *Rs 3 billion* to cyber fraud.

*Why is recovery so low?*

The data highlights the seriousness of online financial fraud in the country. Despite a large number of complaints and arrests, recovering the defrauded amount remains the biggest challenge for law enforcement agencies, as fraudsters use fake accounts, international wallets, and quickly withdraw money.

The committee was informed that tracing such financial transactions and returning the money to victims is still a major challenge for the agency.