39 arrested in crackdown on alleged fake loan app blackmail network

LAHORE  –  The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested 39 people, including a woman, for allegedly operating an illegal call centre that used fake loan applications and AI-generated obscene images to blackmail citizens. According to an NCCIA spokesperson, the network was operating under the name of Talk Master Private Limited in a private housing society in Lahore. The suspects allegedly used several loan applications, including Aghar, Grow Fund, James Fund, Cash Air, Credit Check and Credit Support, to target borrowers. Investigators said the suspects gained access to the mobile phone galleries and contact lists of people seeking loans. They allegedly used this information to create fake explicit images with the help of artificial intelligence and then threatened victims with their circulation to extort money. The operation resulted in the arrest of 38 men and one woman. Law enforcement officials also seized 40 laptops and 41 mobile phones, with digital evidence secured in accordance with legal procedures. The agency has registered a case against the arrested suspects, while further investigation is under way to establish the full scope of the alleged operation and identify any additional individuals involved. NCCIA Director General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said protecting Pakistan’s digital and financial integrity remained a priority for the agency. He reiterated that a zero-tolerance policy would be pursued against individuals involved in blackmailing and exploiting innocent citizens.

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The arrests mark a crackdown on the alleged misuse of digital lending platforms and personal data to intimidate and exploit borrowers.

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