Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested the prime suspect in an alleged Rs35 billion fake US stamps fraud that targeted American customers through a website selling counterfeit postage.
NCCIA Additional Director for the Lahore Zone, Atif Amir, disclosed the arrest of Faheem Akram at a press conference in Lahore. The suspect allegedly operated a website called LabelsBank.com from August 2023 to September 2026.
How the fake US stamps fraud worked
The website sold more than five million counterfeit US postage stamps at $2 each to unaware customers in the United States. The total value of the alleged fraud was estimated at approximately Rs35 billion, or about US$126.8 million.
Investigators found that 16 bank accounts were allegedly used for the business. These included accounts belonging to the suspect, his brother, his wife, his sister and his maternal aunt, suggesting a family-run network.
US authorities had reportedly announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest, which shows how seriously the case was taken across borders.
NCCIA used AI tools to trace the suspect
The NCCIA registered the case under FIR No. 246/2026 and formed eight special teams to investigate across Punjab, Islamabad and Sindh. The teams conducted raids at 35 locations and questioned 47 people.
Investigators used artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to analyse 122 call data records and 50 IMEI tracking reports. They also reviewed audio and video recordings from 120 cameras. A 10-day tracking operation was carried out to locate the suspect before the arrest.
A joint investigation team has been formed to examine the alleged counterfeit stamp sales, the financial transactions and the possible involvement of other individuals in the network. The team includes Deputy Directors Waqas Saeed and Hassan, SHO Najam Bajwa, and Sub-Inspectors Nabeel and Tanveer.
An arrest that follows the indictment
The arrest marks a clear step forward in a case Feature Pakistan has followed from the start. On October 1, Faheem Akram was indicted in the $126 million postage fraud case. The NCCIA has now taken him into custody, and the joint investigation team will dig into the money trail and the wider network behind the website.
The case also fits a wider pattern of cybercrime enforcement in the country. The national cyber emergency response team has warned government departments against restoring hacked systems without proper clearance, while investigators continue to pursue large financial frauds such as the Rs9.41 billion wealth fraud unearthed by the FBR. Readers can also learn how to tell if their phone has been hacked as such scams grow more common.
What happens next
The suspect will now face trial on the charges registered in FIR No. 246/2026. The joint investigation team will examine the financial records from the 16 accounts and determine whether more people were involved in running LabelsBank.com.
If the prosecution proves its case, the verdict could become one of the largest cyber fraud convictions in Pakistan’s history. It would also send a signal to fraud networks that target foreign customers from inside the country.
Who was arrested in the fake US stamps fraud case?
Faheem Akram, described by the NCCIA as the prime suspect, was arrested in Lahore.
How much was the alleged fraud worth?
Around Rs35 billion, or about US$126.8 million, from selling over five million counterfeit stamps at $2 each.
How did the NCCIA trace the suspect?
Through AI-assisted analysis of call records, IMEI tracking, camera footage and a 10-day tracking operation across three regions.
What is LabelsBank.com?
The website the suspect allegedly used to sell counterfeit US postage stamps between August 2023 and September 2026.
