NCCIA Arrests 39 in Lahore Over Fake Loan App Blackmail Network

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has made 39 arrests in Lahore as part of a crackdown on a network allegedly involved in the operation of fake loan applications and blackmail. According to an NCCIA spokesperson, the network operated under the name Talk Master (Pvt) Ltd in a residential area of Lahore. The suspects are alleged to have utilized various loan applications, such as Aghar, Gro Fund, James Fund, Cash Air, Credy Check, and Credit Support, to target individuals who had taken out loans through these platforms.

The agency claims the suspects accessed victims' phone galleries and contact lists, using artificial intelligence to generate phony explicit images. These fabricated images were then threatened against the victims. The arrested individuals comprise 38 men and one woman. Authorities confiscated 40 laptops and 41 mobile phones during the operation, preserving the digital evidence per legal protocols.

A case has been filed against the suspects, and additional investigations are underway. NCCIA Director General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi emphasized that safeguarding Pakistan's digital and financial standing is the agency's primary objective. He also reiterated that the agency maintains a zero-tolerance stance towards individuals involved in blackmailing citizens.