The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested 120 suspects in raids on six call centres in Rawalpindi that were allegedly used to run an online visa fraud operation, officials said on Monday.
Investigators seized 800 mobile phones and laptops during the operation. An NCCIA spokesperson said the gang offered visas for Canada, Italy and other European countries, and supplied fake documents to those who responded.
Additional Director Nisar Ahmad Khan said the number of victims is likely to run into the hundreds. Forensic examination of the seized devices has begun, he said, adding that other call centres operating in the city are now being monitored.
Assistant Director Rana Mohsin said the call centres were also involved in romance fraud and investment scams. Khan urged the public not to share personal data online with anyone. Citizens seeking assistance can contact the NCCIA helpline at 1799.
Three arrested in AI-assisted action
In a separate development earlier today, the NCCIA arrested three suspects from Gujranwala, Kasur and Faisalabad with the help of artificial intelligence.
Additional Director Atif Amir told media that objectionable material involving children was found in the mobile phones of the suspects. All three were arrested on the same day in the three cities.
According to officials, an AI system flagged the suspects’ activity as suspicious to a US agency and forwarded suspicious links from their phones to the NCCIA. The system also collected and analysed data from the devices and sent a report to the agency.
The phones have been taken into custody, and an investigation is under way.