A court has sentenced three people, including a foreign national, to seven years in prison each, along with a combined fine of Rs250,000. The case involved an online investment scheme that cost a citizen Rs19.391 million, and it was investigated by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which looks into cybercrime, through its Islamabad Circle. It is a clear example of online fraud punishment in Pakistan, where a court has handed down a jail term and a fine after a cybercrime probe.
Sentences and fine
An NCCIA official said on Wednesday that each of the three convicts received seven years' imprisonment. The fine was a single combined amount of Rs250,000 rather than separate penalties. The official said the court completed the legal proceedings before passing the sentence.
Sub-Inspector Shehroz Riaz of the NCCIA Islamabad Circle investigated the case. The official credited his investigation and presentation of evidence with helping secure the convictions.
How the scheme worked
According to the official, the convicts lured the victim into an investment scheme through a fake mobile application that impersonated a foreign private bank. The accused used this fraudulent banking app to persuade the complainant to invest money, which resulted in a substantial financial loss. The total amount involved was Rs19.391 million.
Online investment fraud often begins with an offer that promises strong returns, followed by a request to move money through an app or account. Fake apps that look like trusted banks can make such schemes hard for ordinary users to spot.
Online fraud punishment in Pakistan: what the NCCIA advises
The official said the NCCIA remains committed to taking legal action against people involved in online investment scams, financial fraud and other cybercrimes. He urged citizens to take care when investing through online platforms. He also asked them to verify the authenticity of banking applications and investment offers before transferring any money.
Aasan alfaaz mein
NCCIA ki tafteesh ke baad teen logon ko saat saal qaid ki saza sunai gayi hai, jin mein aik ghair mulki shakhs bhi shamil hai. Adalat ne in par Rs250,000 ka mushtarka jurmana bhi lagaya hai. In logon ne aik fake banking app ke zariye Rs19.391 million ka investment fraud kiya tha. Aam logon ko chahiye ke koi bhi investment karne se pehle app aur offer ki tasdeeq zaroor karein.
