HYDERABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has successfully dismantled a blackmailing ring that exploited inappropriate videos of women to extort money.
The prime suspect, Zainul Abideen Shah, was apprehended at a private hotel in Karachi. Shah, a social media worker by profession, is accused of threatening a couple with the release of their private videos unless they paid a large sum of money.
Further investigations revealed that the group consisted of self-proclaimed journalists and operators of fake newspapers, using unethical content to blackmail individuals.
FIA’s lead investigator, Tariq Lashari, revealed that Shah had also blackmailed a woman who had left her phone for repair. Instead of fixing the phone, the suspect allegedly stole personal photos and demanded money, threatening to leak the images online.
The group had previously targeted a female doctor in a similar scheme, prompting swift intervention by the FIA’s cybercrime unit. The agency seized Shah’s mobile phones, which contained incriminating evidence, including photos already shared on social media.
In other news, on December 11, the FIA launched a large-scale operation targeting social media activists involved in spreading fake propaganda across the country. The FIA’s Cybercrime Wing led this effort, resulting in multiple arrests and the filing of numerous FIRs in various regions.
The operation saw the arrest of 26 individuals in Punjab, with 66 FIRs registered across districts, including Lahore. Islamabad’s Cybercrime Wing also registered 51 FIRs, while Multan’s operations led to 14 arrests and more than 30 cases. In Karachi, 16 FIRs were filed, and smaller numbers of cases were recorded in Sukkur, Hyderabad, and Quetta.
In total, 30 social media activists have been arrested for spreading fake news and inciting propaganda. FIA officials underscored the importance of combating misinformation to maintain national stability and harmony.
