The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Lahore Zone has conducted raids on two alleged illegal call centers in Lahore, taking 12 suspects into custody, including two women, over their suspected involvement in international telecommunications fraud. According to a spokesperson, the operations took place on Friday, November 6, at two locations identified as Solution Hub in Batapur and Task Taker in Punjab Housing Society. The raids were conducted under search warrants issued by a competent court following the receipt of credible intelligence about the activities of the establishments. Preliminary investigations indicated that the call centers were allegedly targeting foreign nationals, particularly individuals in Canada, the United States and other countries, through deceptive offers involving mobile phone upgrades, network packages and SIM deals. Investigators believe the operators used these offers to establish contact with potential victims and obtain sensitive financial information. The operations form part of NCCIA Lahore’s enforcement efforts against suspected cyber-enabled financial fraud and the unauthorised use of telecommunications services to target individuals outside Pakistan. The agency said the initial findings pointed towards organised activity at both locations, prompting the enforcement teams to conduct coordinated searches and take action against the individuals allegedly involved.
According to the preliminary findings shared by NCCIA, the suspects allegedly impersonated customer service representatives of international telecommunications companies to make their offers appear legitimate. The companies named in the investigation include Rogers, Bell, Telus and AT&T. By presenting themselves as representatives of these service providers, the individuals allegedly attempted to convince foreign customers that they were communicating with authorised personnel offering upgrades, discounted network packages or SIM-related services. Investigators said the suspected operators used these deceptive interactions to obtain financial credentials from targeted individuals and carry out carding fraud. Such activity involves the unauthorised use of payment card information to conduct transactions, potentially exposing victims to financial losses and misuse of their banking details. The alleged impersonation of established telecommunications brands also raises concerns about the use of trusted company identities to make fraudulent communications appear genuine. The agency’s preliminary investigation identified foreign contact databases and automated dial-up software among the material recovered during the raids. These findings are expected to assist investigators in examining how the call centers contacted potential victims, managed their communications and allegedly obtained financial information. However, the precise scale of the suspected operations and the number of affected individuals were not disclosed in the initial report.
During the first operation at Solution Hub in Batapur, enforcement officials apprehended Arsala Tahir along with six male suspects identified as Muhammad Sameer Tahir, Hussain Rizwan, Abdul Rehman, Umar Khalid, Syed Ali Murtaza and Sohaib Ali. A second team conducted the raid at Task Taker in Punjab Housing Society, where Ayesha Muzammil and four men identified as Moazzam Sultan, Zain Ashraf, Zain and Muhammad Faisal were taken into custody. In total, the two operations resulted in the detention of 12 individuals, including two women. Enforcement teams also seized 28 digital devices from the premises. The recovered equipment comprised 13 laptops, two desktop computers and 13 mobile phones. According to the spokesperson, the devices contained automated dial-up software and databases holding foreign contact information. The seized material has been forwarded for forensic examination, which is expected to help investigators assess the systems used by the establishments and identify information relevant to the alleged fraud. Digital forensic analysis may also assist in examining stored records, communication histories, software configurations and contact databases. The agency has not yet disclosed the findings of the forensic examination, and the recovered devices remain part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of both call centers.
Following the raids, cases were registered against the suspects, while further investigations were underway to establish the extent of the alleged operations and determine the roles of the individuals taken into custody. NCCIA Additional Director Atif Ameer said enforcement action against illegal call centers and the misuse of financial data would continue across the region. The statement indicates that the agency intends to maintain scrutiny of establishments suspected of using telecommunications infrastructure to conduct fraud against local and international targets. The investigation will focus on the material recovered from the two premises, including digital devices, automated calling software and foreign contact databases, as officials examine the suspected methods used to approach victims and obtain their financial credentials. The involvement of international telecommunications brands in the alleged impersonation scheme also makes the case relevant to cross-border fraud concerns, as individuals in multiple countries may be exposed to deceptive calls and offers presented under the names of recognised service providers. The agency’s findings so far are preliminary, and further details about the suspected financial losses, potential victims and the wider network have not been made public. The registered cases and ongoing forensic examination are expected to support the next stages of the investigation as NCCIA Lahore continues its action against suspected illegal call center operations.
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