MULTAN – In a major breakthrough against cybercrime, the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested two suspects behind a massive Rs20 billion online fraud in Multan.
The prime suspect, Samar Abbas, along with his accomplice, was captured during a targeted operation in the Layyah district. A third suspect, Abdul Hai, remains at large, with efforts underway for his arrest.
According to NCCIA officials, the group lured unsuspecting citizens into fake online trading schemes by promising high returns, ultimately defrauding residents across South Punjab out of billions. The accused had been evading authorities for over a year.
Additional Director of NCCIA confirmed that hundreds of complaints had been registered, labeling the case as one of the region’s largest cyber scams to date.
The suspects reportedly used sophisticated digital tactics to exploit the rising interest in online investment platforms. Their arrest marks a crucial step in the NCCIA’s nationwide crackdown on digital financial crimes.
This operation follows recent international collaboration between NCCIA and global agencies, including the FBI and Dutch police, which dismantled the “HeartSender Group”—a global cybercrime ring operating out of Multan and Lahore.
Officials emphasized the need for increased public awareness, urging citizens to verify any investment platform before engaging and to report suspicious activity to relevant authorities.In a separate operation, intelligence agencies, alongside NCCIA Multan, dismantled a global cyber network targeting foreign nationals, particularly Americans. Among the 21-member gang, five suspects were arrested: Muhammad Aslam, Adeel Aziz, Usama Nawaz, Abdul Moeez, and Shoaib Nazir.
The international network, allegedly led by Rameez Shahzad, is accused of orchestrating multi-million dollar fraud schemes, making these operations a significant milestone in Pakistan’s fight against global digital crime.
