KARACHI – The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has dismantled a massive international online fraud network operating out of Karachi’s Gulzar-e-Hijri area. During a targeted raid, officials took over 40 individuals into custody for their alleged involvement in global financial scams.
The Operation
Acting on a verified intelligence tip, the NCCIA team cordoned off the premises used as a makeshift call center. During the operation, authorities seized a significant cache of digital evidence including high-end desktop computers, laptops, sophisticated networking equipment, and digital storage devices.
The Modus Operandi
Sources reveal that the facility was allegedly operated by an individual identified as Zamana Hani. The call center functioned as a hub for “vishing” (voice phishing), where agents posed as legitimate bank representatives to target foreign nationals.
According to preliminary investigations, the suspects utilized social engineering to manipulate victims into revealing sensitive information. They also used fraudulent applications to gain access to international banking data and subsequently carried out unauthorized transfers to siphon large sums of money from victims’ accounts.
Global Links and Ongoing Investigation
The NCCIA stated that the detained agents are currently undergoing interrogation. Early findings suggest the network has strong operational ties with facilitators based abroad.
“We are currently conducting a forensic analysis of the seized digital equipment to trace the full extent of this network’s reach and identify further accomplices,” an official stated.
Authorities are also working to determine the exact number of victims and the total financial impact of the scam, which is estimated to run into millions.