The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Karachi said on Wednesday that it had arrested 47 people during a call centre raid on an allegedly illegal operation on Sharea Faisal. An NCCIA spokesperson said the centre, on the fourth floor of Technology Park, was used to commit fraud against foreigners.
According to the agency, staff allegedly obtained banking information from foreign nationals through deceptive calls and then misused that financial data. A case has been registered against 52 suspects under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), Pakistan’s main cybercrime law. Five suspects remain absconding.
What officers recovered
During the search and seizure, investigators recovered 50 laptops, 26 mobile phones, one desktop computer, other digital devices and miscellaneous documents. The haul is central to how the agency says it will map the digital tools used in the alleged scam.
NCCIA described the site as a scam centre rather than a licensed business. The agency’s account is that callers posed in ways meant to trick victims abroad into sharing sensitive banking details.
Court remand and next steps
Investigating officer Ameer Ali produced the 47 suspects before Judicial Magistrate (East) Gulraiz Memon and sought 14 days’ physical custody for further questioning. In the remand papers, the officer said custody was needed to examine the modus operandi and to establish the operational structure, financial channels and digital infrastructure behind the alleged offences.
After hearing the officer, the court remanded all 47 suspects to NCCIA custody for three days, shorter than the period sought. That window is meant for interrogation on how the alleged fraud was organised and how money and data may have moved.
Separate case in the same court
The same court, meanwhile, sent 12 suspects to prison on judicial remand in a different matter involving the creation of explicit animations featuring child characters and their sale to foreign clients. That proceeding is distinct from the Sharea Faisal spoofing and credit-card data theft case, though it was heard the same day.
Further questioning of those held in the call centre case is expected during the three-day NCCIA remand. The agency has not publicly named the foreign victims or the total sums allegedly taken.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Karachi mein NCCIA ne Sharea Faisal par ek ghair qanooni call centre par chapa mara. Unhone 47 logon ko giraftar kiya, aur kaha ke yeh log bahar ke mulkon ke logon se banking maloomat nikaalte thay. Ab court ne inhe teen din NCCIA ke paas sawal jawab ke liye bhej diya hai. Aam logon ke liye yeh is baat ki nishani hai ke cyber fraud ke khilaf karwai ja rahi hai.
