ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested 154 suspects, including 53 women, after busting two illegal call centres in Islamabad and Rawalpindi during a three-day operation against international cyber fraud and online blackmailing networks.

Addressing a press conference, NCCIA Additional Director Shoaib Khan on Saturday said the suspects were involved in targeting citizens of South Asian countries through fraudulent loan applications, stealing personal information and using manipulated photographs and videos to harass and blackmail victims.

Giving details of the operations, he said NCCIA teams raided an illegal call centre operating inside a house in Rawalpindi and arrested 11 suspects, including 10 women and one man.

In a separate operation in Islamabad, 143 suspects, including 43 women, were arrested from another illegal call centre.

Shoaib said the suspects were running transnational fraud activities and targeting people in different South Asian countries through deceptive online schemes.

He explained that the suspects persuaded people to install mobile applications by offering loans. Once the applications were installed, the suspects obtained access to personal information, photographs and other data stored on victims’ mobile phones.

The photographs and videos were then allegedly edited to create obscene material, which was used to threaten, harass and blackmail the victims.

He said 37 suspects involved in harassment and blackmailing cases had also been arrested, adding that those involved had allegedly been carrying out such activities for the past two to three years.

The Additional Director said cases had been registered against the arrested suspects and further investigations were underway. He said the NCCIA was following a zero-tolerance policy against cyber fraud networks and would continue action against those involved in online financial crimes, harassment and blackmailing.

Shoaibannounced that a major crackdown against fraud carried out in the name of online betting and gaming would be launched soon.

He warned that online betting and gaming fraudsters often attracted people by offering profits in the beginning but later deprived them of their money.

The Additional Director also expressed concern over young people joining illegal call centres for attractive salaries. He appealed to parents to monitor their children’s activities and discourage them from accepting jobs at such centres, warning that involvement in illegal activities could damage their future and leave them with a criminal record.

Shoaib advised citizens not to install suspicious loan applications or share their photographs, mobile phone data and details of relatives with unknown individuals or online platforms.

He urged the public to remain alert to online fraud, protect their personal information and avoid fraudulent betting and gaming schemes.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2026