Pakistan detains 258 foreigners in scam centre raid

Pakistan authorities announced on Monday that they had detained 258 foreigners, comprising 40 Chinese nationals, in connection with an alleged scam call centre raid in Islamabad. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), a Pakistani intelligence service, informed AFP that those arrested were operating a scam call centre in the Gulberg Green housing society, situated on the outskirts of the capital city.

The detainees, including 170 individuals from Vietnam, as well as nationals from Malaysia and other Asian countries, were found to be in Pakistan on tourist visas, activities for which they were not authorized. They were subsequently held at a Rawalpindi jail, with respective embassies notified about the arrests. The FIA official, speaking to AFP, mentioned that the investigation was ongoing and that details of the allegations against the detainees would be disclosed in the days ahead.

Media reports suggest that the foreigners were apprehended last week. AFP has sought a response from the Chinese foreign ministry regarding the detentions. This incident echoes a similar raid in July 2025, where 149 people, predominantly Chinese, were arrested on charges of involvement in a large call centre linked to Ponzi schemes and investment fraud.