LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) claims to have arrested five alleged members of a gang involved in financial fraud by impersonating bank officials.

The operation in which these suspects were arrested was carried out on the directives of NCCIA Punjab Director Muhammad Ali Waseem.

According to the NCCIA, the suspects deceived one Saleem Raza, a resident of Multan, by contacting him on phone, posing as a bank representatives and extracted personal banking information from him. Later, using this information, they allegedly transferred Rs500,000 from the complainant’s bank account to another.

The NCCIA arrested the suspects – Akhtar Ali, Anwar, Arshad Mehmood, Gohar Zeb and Shahid Hussain – in a raid on Monday. The suspects belong to Peshawar, Shorkot, Jhang, and Faisalabad.

Six mobile phones and eight international SIM cards, which were allegedly being used in cyber fraud activities, have been recovered from the suspects, the agency says.

A case has been registered against the suspects under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016 and relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Mr Waseem said strict action against the cyber criminals involved in financial fraud and causing losses to people would continue without discrimination.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2026