The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has reported the detention of 1,749 suspects, the recovery of Rs 149.8 million and the registration of 442 cases during a nationwide crackdown on cybercrime over a period of 53 days. The operations, conducted under the leadership of Director General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, focused on online fraud networks, illegal call centres and other activities involving the misuse of digital platforms. According to an NCCIA official, the agency received 10,386 cybercrime complaints during the period, which led to the registration of 6,672 inquiries and 442 cases across the country. The official shared the figures on Wednesday, November 11, saying that enforcement operations had been carried out in different parts of Pakistan to address reported cybercrime activities. The agency said the nationwide action resulted in 1,749 suspects being taken into custody, while the recovered amount of Rs 149.8 million was secured during investigations and enforcement activities. The figures reflect the scale of complaints and cases handled by the agency during the 53-day period, as well as its efforts to investigate suspected financial fraud and other offences involving digital platforms. NCCIA said its operations were directed at identifying individuals and groups involved in cybercrime and taking action against networks suspected of targeting citizens through online schemes and fraudulent activities.
Alongside its investigations and enforcement operations, NCCIA’s Cyber Patrolling Unit carried out technical analysis of 4,530 URLs during the reporting period. Of these, 1,186 suspicious web links were referred to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for blocking. The official also reported that 559 inquiries were initiated and 51 cases registered in connection with cybercrime matters handled through the relevant monitoring and enforcement activities. The technical work forms part of the agency’s efforts to identify online links considered suspicious and refer them to the relevant authority for further action. Websites and web links can be used in different types of online fraud, including schemes designed to mislead users or obtain sensitive information. The referral of suspicious URLs to PTA represents a separate part of the agency’s response, complementing investigations into reported offences and operations against suspected individuals. The figures provided by NCCIA indicate that its work during the 53-day period involved both field enforcement and technical monitoring of online activity. The agency did not provide further details about the individual URLs, the websites involved or the specific nature of each suspected offence in the announcement. However, the reported analysis and referrals highlight the role of coordination between cybercrime investigators and the telecommunications regulator in addressing potentially harmful online resources.
Illegal call centres were another major focus of the nationwide crackdown. According to the NCCIA official, the agency conducted 59 raids across the country in connection with suspected illegal call centre operations. These activities resulted in the registration of 43 cases and the detention of 973 suspects. The official said that 211 foreign nationals were among those taken into custody during the operations. NCCIA also seized 15,502 items during the raids, which were taken into custody for further investigation and examination. The agency said the operations were aimed at dismantling organised cyber fraud networks, identifying individuals suspected of involvement in online financial scams and preventing digital platforms from being misused for illegal activities. Call centres suspected of facilitating fraudulent schemes can involve multiple individuals and require investigators to examine equipment, records and other material to establish the nature of their operations. The seized items are therefore subject to further examination as part of the ongoing investigative process. The figures indicate that action against suspected call centre networks accounted for a substantial portion of the reported enforcement activity, with 973 suspects detained through the 59 raids. However, the announcement did not provide a breakdown of the specific allegations or the roles attributed to the individuals taken into custody. Further investigation will be required to establish the circumstances of the cases and determine the involvement of those suspected.
Director General NCCIA Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said the agency was following a zero-tolerance policy against cyber fraud networks and would further intensify operations against individuals and groups involved in cybercrime. He said action against cybercriminal activities would continue across the country to protect citizens from online fraud and other digital threats. The statement reflects the agency’s intention to maintain enforcement efforts against suspected fraud networks, including those operating through illegal call centres and digital platforms. The reported results cover several areas of NCCIA’s work, including public complaints, investigations, case registrations, suspect detentions, financial recoveries, technical analysis of suspicious URLs and raids against call centre operations. The agency’s figures also highlight the volume of cybercrime complaints received during the 53-day period, with 10,386 complaints leading to 6,672 inquiries and 442 registered cases. The recovery of Rs 149.8 million represents the amount reported by the agency as recovered during its investigations and enforcement actions. NCCIA said it would continue taking action nationwide as part of its efforts to address online financial scams and other forms of cybercrime. The investigations and cases remain subject to the relevant legal processes, while the seized material and digital evidence are to be examined as part of the agency’s ongoing work.
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