NCCIA arrests two over call centre scam targeting Americans
LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency has arrested two men accused of running an illegal call centre in Lahore to steal the banking details of American citizens.
Officers raided the centre on Main Boulevard in Gulberg after obtaining a court-issued search warrant. The Lahore call centre fraud case is the latest in a string of actions against cybercrime networks operating from Pakistan’s cities.
Lahore call centre fraud: how the suspects were caught
NCCIA Lahore Zone Additional Director Atif Ameer said investigators first spotted suspicious activity at the call centre through open-source intelligence. That digital trail led the agency to seek a warrant before moving in.
The arrested men were identified as Irshad Ahmed Butt, described as the owner of the call centre, and his employee Aurangzeb.
According to the agency, the suspects contacted American citizens while pretending to represent insurance companies. Under the guise of an insurance campaign, they asked targets for credit and debit card details, then used the information to carry out unauthorised financial transactions.
What investigators recovered
Officers seized laptops and mobile phones from the premises. A preliminary examination of the devices reportedly uncovered online calling software and data linked to financial fraud.
The agency has not said how many people were allegedly targeted, or how much money was involved. Both suspects are in custody while the forensic examination of the recovered devices continues.
The case fits a familiar pattern. Fake call centres in Lahore, Karachi and other cities have for years targeted victims abroad, often posing as tax officials, tech support staff or, as in this case, insurance agents. American victims are a frequent target because stolen card data can be monetised quickly.
The wider crackdown
The NCCIA has stepped up action against digital fraud in recent months. Feature Pakistan reported on the court proceedings around NCCIA custody in the Iqrarul Hassan case, which put the agency’s investigative powers under judicial scrutiny.
Readers worried about their own exposure can find practical guidance in our online banking safety guide, which explains how to protect accounts against exactly the kind of social-engineering tricks used in this case.
Never share card numbers, CVV codes or one-time passwords with unsolicited callers, however convincing they sound. Banks and genuine insurers do not ask for these details over the phone.
The original report on this development was published by ProPakistani.
FAQ
Who was arrested in the Lahore call centre fraud case?
The NCCIA arrested Irshad Ahmed Butt, described as the call centre’s owner, and his employee Aurangzeb, from a centre on Main Boulevard, Gulberg, Lahore.
How did the alleged scam work?
The suspects allegedly posed as insurance company representatives, collected credit and debit card details from US citizens under the guise of an insurance campaign, then used the data for unauthorised transactions.
How were the suspects identified?
NCCIA Lahore Zone Additional Director Atif Ameer said suspicious activity was first identified through open-source intelligence, after which investigators obtained a court-issued search warrant before the raid.
