{
  "id": 1513155,
  "title": "Pakistan detains 258 foreigners in scam centre raid",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/pakistan-detains-258-foreigners-in-scam-centre-raid-1513155",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T16:14:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/08/1513315/pakistan-detains-258-foreigners-scam-centre-raid"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pakistan authorities detained 258 foreigners, including 40 Chinese nationals, following a raid on an alleged scam call centre in Islamabad, according to a Federal Investigation Agency official. The individuals were found to be running a scam call centre in the Gulberg Green housing society on the outskirts of the capital. They had entered Pakistan on tourist visas and were not permitted to engage in their activities. The detainees, comprising 170 from Vietnam and nationals from Malaysia and other Asian countries, are currently held at a Rawalpindi jail. The respective embassies have been informed, and details of the allegations against the detainees will be released as the investigation continues. Media reports suggest the foreigners were detained last week, though AFP has requested a comment from the Chinese foreign ministry on the detentions. A similar raid occurred in July 2025, resulting in the arrest of 149 people, including 71 foreigners mostly from China, on allegations of involvement in a call centre that allegedly carried out Ponzi schemes and investment fraud.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: Pakistan authorities said Monday they detained 258 foreigners, including 40 Chinese nationals, following a raid on an alleged “scam call centre” in the capital Islamabad.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Pakistan detains 258 foreigners in scam centre raid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/pakistan-detains-258-foreigners-in-scam-centre-raid",
        "published": "2026-08-17T12:08:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}