In the latest SIM card scam news from Islamabad, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA)—the federal body that investigates online and phone-related crime—has arrested four suspects accused of misusing people’s biometric fingerprints to activate mobile SIM cards without their knowledge.
Investigators say the group approached people at places such as villages and bus stations and offered free SIM cards. After taking thumb impressions on biometric verification devices, they allegedly claimed the scan had failed and asked for another attempt. Officials suspect that extra connections were opened against the victims’ identities during those repeats, even though each person received only one SIM.
How the free-SIM trap worked
According to the investigation, the additional SIMs activated against victims’ identities were then sold to others. Those connections were allegedly used for financial fraud, online scams and other unlawful activity. The first information report (FIR)—the formal police complaint—also alleges the gang used the cards to create fake social media accounts, impersonate people and run money scams.
The FIR was registered on 1 November at the NCCIA’s Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad. It names 11 individuals, including people whose identities are not yet confirmed and who are being traced through WhatsApp accounts, according to the investigation record.
What investigators have recovered
Officials familiar with the case said at least 70 SIM cards have been recovered so far. They are also checking whether people linked to telecommunications franchises—authorised shops that sell and verify mobile connections—helped with the alleged illegal activations.
The four arrested suspects were produced before an Islamabad court. Senior Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate (West) Malak Aman granted Investigating Officer Babar Ali, a sub-inspector at the NCCIA centre, two days’ physical remand of each accused for further questioning. The suspects must be brought back before the court on 4 November.
This SIM card scam news also carries a public warning. Officials advised citizens to treat unsolicited free-SIM offers with caution, to get connections only through authorised telecom franchises, to insist that biometric verification is done openly, and to refuse repeated fingerprint scans unless the reason is clearly explained. That advice sits at the heart of practical SIM card scam protection for ordinary users.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 1 November: An FIR is registered at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad, naming 11 people over alleged non-consensual SIM activations and related fraud.
- Early November: Four suspects are arrested; investigators report recovery of at least 70 SIM cards and say operations took place at villages, bus stations and other locations.
- Court appearance (before 4 November): An Islamabad magistrate grants the NCCIA two days’ physical remand of each of the four accused.
- 4 November: The suspects are due to be produced before the court again.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Islamabad mein NCCIA ne ek gang pakra hai jo logon ke thumb prints se unki marzi ke baghair SIM cards nikalwati thi. Logon ko free SIM ka lalach de kar fingerprint dubara dubara liye jate the, aur zyada SIMs unke naam par activate ho jati thin. Ab tak kam az kam 70 SIM cards baramad ho chuki hain, aur char log do din ke physical remand par hain. Aap free SIM ki offer se door rahen aur fingerprint dubara na den jab tak wajah clear na ho.
