NCCIA Online Fraud Crackdown Recovers Rs3.2m
The NCCIA online fraud crackdown has recovered Rs3.2 million in two separate cases during an operation in Rawalpindi. The agency has also warned citizens again about fake messages offering a Rs13,000 cash prize in the prime minister’s name.
Officials said the NCCIA was committed to strict action against online fraud and fake investment schemes.
NCCIA online fraud cases: Rs1.8m and Rs1.4m recovered
In the first case, the NCCIA recovered Rs1.8 million from suspects involved in an online investment fraud. A citizen was defrauded of more than Rs2.9 million through Facebook and WhatsApp.
The complainant was first contacted on Facebook through an account named Misbah Sabir. He was then approached on WhatsApp by a person posing as an online businessman, who persuaded him to invest money online.
The fraudsters shared a link which, when clicked, led to the installation of an application named “Onchainus.net” on the complainant’s mobile phone. Through the app, the fraudsters allegedly took Rs2,915,872 from him. During the operation, the NCCIA recovered Rs1.8 million.
In the second case, the NCCIA recovered Rs1.4 million in an online trading and investment fraud in which a Rawalpindi resident was defrauded of more than Rs21 million.
The complainant, Muhammad Arshad, was lured into a purported online trading scheme through a WhatsApp group named “v185-Wharton”, which offered lucrative investment opportunities and substantial profits. He then transferred Rs21,018,511 to various beneficiary accounts through an app and an ATM card. The accused in the case is currently on physical remand.
The two cases follow a pattern: fraudsters contact victims on Facebook or WhatsApp, promise high returns, and then move the money through apps and bank accounts. The NCCIA said further investigation was under way in both cases to identify the other people involved and recover the rest of the money.
Warning over fake Rs13,000 prize messages
Separately, the agency warned citizens against fake messages circulating in the name of a Rs13,000 cash prize from the prime minister. Fraudsters are using the prime minister’s name to make the messages look genuine, and they are trying to loot people through bogus prize schemes.
Citizens are being targeted through suspicious links sent in the fake prize messages. Clicking on these links could result in the theft of personal and banking information. The agency advised the public not to click on unverified links, share personal or banking details with anyone, or forward such fake messages.
The warning was first issued over the weekend, when the messages began circulating around Iqbal Day on November 9.
A wider crackdown
The recoveries add to a much larger NCCIA campaign. The agency arrested 1,129 suspects in a month-long cybercrime crackdown, returning Rs105.3 million to victims. It has also arrested the prime suspect in an alleged Rs35 billion fake US postage stamps fraud in Lahore. Its custody cases also reach the courts, including the challenge to television anchor Iqrarul Hassan’s NCCIA remand.
Citizens have been asked to report cybercrime incidents through helpline 1799 or at the nearest NCCIA circle.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the NCCIA recover in the two fraud cases?
The agency recovered Rs3.2 million in total: Rs1.8 million in an online investment fraud case and Rs1.4 million in an online trading fraud case.
How did the fraudsters trap their victims?
In one case, the victim was contacted on Facebook and WhatsApp and persuaded to install an app. In the other, the victim was lured through a WhatsApp group that promised high trading profits.
Are the fake Rs13,000 prize messages real?
No. The NCCIA has warned that messages offering a Rs13,000 cash prize in the prime minister’s name are fake and are designed to steal personal and banking information.
What should I do if I get a fake prize message?
Do not click the link, do not share personal or banking details, and do not forward the message. Report it to the NCCIA helpline 1799.
How do I report cybercrime to the NCCIA?
Call helpline 1799 or visit the nearest NCCIA circle office to lodge a complaint.
