The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has successfully apprehended a 12-member organized gang engaged in online financial fraud, employing advanced technology in their operations.
According to the FIA, the suspects are linked to a range of criminal activities including online financial fraud, blackmailing, extortion, call spoofing, and identity concealment. The arrests took place during a raid in Multan, where it was discovered that their fraudulent network extended beyond Pakistan to the Middle East and other regions.
Among those arrested are Abdul Majid, Muhammad Khalid, Umar Farooq, Zubair Ahmed, and Muhammad Zaeem. The operation also led to the capture of Imran, Abdul Aziz, Abdul Mohsin, Aamir Abdul Rashid, and Jawad, the latter of whom hails from Afghanistan and allegedly posed as a bank representative to deceive citizens.
The FIA revealed that the gang targeted foreign nationals to obtain sensitive bank account information, leveraging their proficiency in English and Arabic to exploit unsuspecting individuals. Their fraudulent activities included fake visa processing, prize distribution scams, and phony aid offers.
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Authorities discovered that the suspects utilized fake SIM cards, illegal aplications, and unlawfully obtained personal data to facilitate their schemes. During the raid, investigators seized 14 smartphones, tablets, 11 illegal international SIM cards, and details of international bank accounts. Additionally, spoofing software used for making fraudulent calls was also recovered.
The FIA has initiated an investigation following the arrests and is conducting further operations to apprehend additional accomplices involved in the network.
