A judicial magistrate in Lahore has granted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) a further four day physical remand of the prime suspect in an alleged Rs35 billion fraud case involving the online sale of counterfeit US postage stamps. The agency presented suspect Faheem Akram and his co suspect Naeem before the court after the completion of their previous four day remand period. The investigating officer requested additional custody for further questioning and investigation, following which Magistrate Naeem Wattoo approved the request and extended the physical remand of both suspects for another four days. The suspects have been directed to appear before the court again on November 3.
The initial investigation revealed that the suspect had allegedly been operating a website since August 2023 through which more than five million counterfeit US postage labels were reportedly sold online. According to information from the US Department of Justice, Akram was indicted by a federal grand jury in Florida in September 2026 over allegations related to the sale of more than 5.1 million counterfeit postage labels. US prosecutors stated that the activity resulted in losses of more than $126 million to the US Postal Service. Investigators in the United States alleged that the website offered postage labels at around $2 each without considering factors such as package weight, size, or destination. A US court order later authorized the seizure and shutdown of the website connected to the alleged operation. NCCIA had taken action against Faheem Akram, a resident of Khanewal, in Lahore as part of the investigation. During a press conference on October 20, NCCIA Lahore Zone Additional Director Atif Ameer shared details about the agency’s investigation into the financial activities linked to the case. He stated that 16 bank accounts were identified during the probe, with seven accounts allegedly operated by the suspect, five connected to his brother, two linked to his wife, and one each associated with his sister and aunt. The agency expanded the investigation across different areas of the country, forming eight special teams in Punjab, Islamabad, and Sindh to trace relevant information and examine possible connections related to the case. According to officials, these teams carried out searches at 35 locations and questioned 47 individuals as part of the investigation process.
The NCCIA stated that investigators used digital and forensic methods to analyze the suspect’s activities and identify individuals potentially connected to the operation. The agency reviewed 122 call data records, 50 IMEI tracking reports, and audio and video recordings collected from 120 cameras during the investigation. Officials also stated that artificial intelligence and other modern technological tools were used while conducting the inquiry. A locator operation continued for 10 days as investigators worked to establish the suspect’s movements and gather additional information regarding the alleged activities.
The financial trail remains a major focus of the investigation, with NCCIA examining transactions conducted through the identified bank accounts and reviewing the movement of funds between accounts allegedly connected to the suspect and relatives. Officials stated that the possible involvement of family members is also being examined, particularly regarding the use of their accounts in connection with the online business activities under investigation. The agency is also working to determine the role of other individuals who may have been involved in website operations, order processing, payment collection, or distribution of the counterfeit stamps. Investigators are continuing efforts to establish the complete scope of the operation and verify the volume and value of transactions associated with the case.
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