ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad on Monday granted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) a two-day physical remand of five foreign nationals accused of operating an illegal call centre in the G-10 sector of the federal capital.
According to the NCCIA, a recent raid on the premises uncovered a fraudulent online operation allegedly managed by the five foreigners. The site also employed over 60 Pakistani nationals. During court proceedings, the prosecutor said the suspects were part of an organised group involved in online scams through illegal websites. “Further interrogation of the suspects is necessary,” the prosecutor told the court while requesting their remand.
The court approved the request and ordered that the suspects be produced again on July 16.
An NCCIA spokesperson confirmed the arrests and added that action would also be taken against individuals who provided the suspects with support and protection in Pakistan.
According to a press release issued by the NCCIA, the raid was conducted in Sardar Plaza, G-10 Markaz, where over 60 individuals were found working, including the five arrested foreigners. The operation followed the registration of a first information report (FIR) on Sunday by complainant Aamir Azeem Abbasi, who reported a task-based scam causing financial losses.
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The FIR revealed that the call centre was allegedly operated by a criminal gang impersonating representatives of a fake online earning company. The suspects reportedly used AI-generated images and false identities to approach vulnerable individuals via Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Once contact was established, a multi-layered system involving initial scammers, Telegram-based handlers, finance managers, and overseas collaborators — referred to as “killers” — was used to manipulate victims and extract money.
The gang allegedly targeted both local and international victims, misusing their confidential data and transferring illicit funds through cryptocurrency wallets. Equipment used in the digital scam was also seized during the operation. The accused reportedly admitted to their role in the network and failed to present any legal justification for their activities.
