NCCIA Arrests 273 in Raid on Illegal Call Center in Karachi

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has apprehended 273 individuals during a raid on an alleged illegal call center in Karachi on November 4. The operation was part of an investigation into a network suspected of stealing credit card information and conducting unauthorized financial transactions. NCCIA Additional Director Shahzad Akbar stated that the call center was purportedly functioning as a debt validation service, targeting foreign nationals through deceptive phone calls.

Employees were alleged to have impersonated representatives of foreign banks and financial service providers to acquire sensitive data, such as Social Security numbers and credit card details. The stolen information was purportedly utilized to carry out unauthorized transactions via merchant accounts, with funds transferred to Pakistan through company accounts and remittance channels.

The NCCIA has initiated legal proceedings under multiple provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, encompassing electronic fraud, identity theft, unauthorized data access, and spoofing. A Karachi court granted bail to 98 female and juvenile suspects arrested during the operation, while nine individuals, including alleged call center owners, were handed over to NCCIA for further investigation, and the remaining male suspects were remanded in custody.

Protesters outside the call center accused detained employees of innocent employment roles and demanded their release.