NCCIA arrests 37 suspects in raid on illegal call centre in Lahore, seizes 80 digital devices

LAHORE  –  The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Lahore, has arrested 37 suspects for their alleged involvement in an illegal call center operating in Johar Town and targeting citizens of the United States and Canada through a fraudulent mobile phone sales scheme. During the raid, the agency seized 80 digital devices, including five CPUs, 40 laptops, and 35 mobile phones, for forensic examination and collection of further evidence. According to a NCCIA spokesperson, the raid was conducted at Plot No 103, Block F, Johar Town Phase-I, on the basis of information obtained through Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), following approval from the Additional Director, NCCIA Lahore, and the acquisition of a search warrant from the competent court. The 37 individuals present at the call centre were allegedly found involved in fraudulent activities using online dial-up and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly impersonated representatives of US and Canadian mobile service providers and contacted citizens of the two countries by offering mobile phones for sale. They allegedly obtained customers’ credit and debit card details under this pretext and subsequently used the information for unauthorized financial transactions. The initial examination of the seized digital devices also revealed relevant dial-up software and data allegedly linked to the fraudulent activities. The devices were taken into custody and sealed in accordance with the prescribed procedure for further forensic analysis.

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The spokesperson said that the call centre was reportedly owned by Hafiz Ali Ahmad, son of Shahbaz Ahmad, who was not present at the premises during the raid.

A case, FIR No 241/2026, was registered on October 10, 2026, under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and the Pakistan Penal Code. The investigation has been assigned to Sub-Inspector Mohsin Razaq.

The NCCIA spokesperson said further investigation was under way to establish the individual roles of the suspects, determine the extent of the alleged financial fraud targeting citizens of the United States and Canada, and analyse the digital evidence recovered during the operation.

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