LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has busted a fake trading call centre here, arresting seven suspects, including three women.

According to NCCIA Punjab Director Muhammad Ali Waseem, the agency has launched a crackdown on organised gangs allegedly involved in fake online investment and financial fraud across the province.

He said the arrested suspects had been operating a “trading call centre” in Lahore, where they duped people through WhatsApp messages and mobile phone calls, luring them into fraudulent investment schemes.

During the raid, suspects Ejaz Ahmed, Abdullah, Akhlaq Ali, Hamza, Ms Fiza, Ms Samreen and Ms Noreen were arrested and a case was registered against them under various sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and the Pakistan Penal Code.

The NCCIA spokesperson says the suspects used WhatsApp, mobile phone calls and other social media platforms to contact the victims, offering lucrative investment opportunities and promising high returns.

“The victims’ money was later transferred into various bank accounts and digital wallets controlled by the gang,” he said and added the suspects had set up a fully operational call centre where several operators were engaged for trapping people in fake trading and investment schemes.

One of the victims, Khurram Ashfaq, said the suspects fraudulently obtained Rs2,779,501 from him by luring him into investing in an online trading application, promising high profits.

Nine mobile phones, four computer systems, 415 fake active SIM cards, 610 fake silicone thumb impressions, 56 ATM cards and 13 biometric verification devices have been recovered from the suspects.

The director announced commendation certificates and cash rewards for the raiding team.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2026