Rawalpindi operation follows embassy complaint as investigators probe alleged gang for promising victim travel arrangements to Italy

RAWALPINDI: The Federal Investigation Agency has arrested nine members of an alleged fraud gang, including its suspected ringleader, for impersonating Italian Embassy representatives and defrauding a citizen of Rs4.5 million.

According to the FIA, authorities arrested the suspects during an operation in Rawalpindi after receiving information about the alleged scam.

The investigation began following a complaint lodged by the Italian Embassy with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency regarding individuals allegedly misusing the embassy’s identity to deceive people seeking opportunities to travel abroad.

Suspects Allegedly Promised Travel to Italy

Investigators said the suspects presented themselves as representatives associated with the Italian Embassy and approached the victim with an offer to facilitate his travel to Italy.

The gang allegedly convinced the citizen that it could arrange the required process and subsequently collected Rs4.5 million from him.

However, investigators said the promised travel arrangements did not materialise, leading authorities to pursue the suspects over allegations of fraud and impersonation.

The FIA subsequently traced the alleged network and arrested nine people, including the individual authorities believe headed the operation.

Investigators Probe Possible Additional Victims

Meanwhile, the FIA has registered a case against the arrested suspects and launched further investigations into the alleged scheme.

Officials are now examining the activities of the group to determine the overall scale of the operation and establish whether the suspects targeted other citizens through similar methods.

Furthermore, investigators will seek to identify any additional individuals who may have assisted the alleged network or benefited from the fraud.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the arrested suspects or provided details about how long the alleged network had operated.

The investigation will also examine communications, financial transactions and other available evidence to establish individual roles in the suspected scheme.

The FIA said further proceedings would follow as investigators work to uncover the complete extent of the alleged fraud.