The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, in collaboration with a law-enforcement unit, conducted a major operation against a cybercrime network in Faisalabad, resulting in the arrest of 149 individuals allegedly operating a Ponzi scheme through an illegal call centre. The raid took place in Shangla Hill, located along Shahkot Road, where the authorities uncovered a large-scale fraudulent operation being run under the guise of a call centre setup.
According to official sources, the facility was reportedly owned by Malik Tahseen Awan, a former chairman of the board of directors at Faisalabad Electric Supply Company. While Awan remains at large, authorities have registered seven separate cases against him and other involved individuals, including charges related to deception, fraud, and financial misrepresentation. Raids are currently ongoing to apprehend the key suspect and other persons linked to the network.
The call centre housed a sizable workforce, comprising both Pakistani nationals and foreign individuals. Out of the total 149 people taken into custody, 78 are Pakistani citizens, while the remaining 73 are foreign nationals. Officials did not disclose the nationalities of the foreigners but confirmed that all individuals were detained during the raid. Initial investigations suggest that the group had been engaged in sophisticated online fraud tactics, using call centre operations to attract victims and propagate Ponzi schemes promising high returns on fabricated investment platforms.
NCCIA officials highlighted that the accused were systematically targeting local and international clients, employing social engineering techniques and scripted calls to solicit deposits. The operation’s scale and the presence of foreign workers within the illegal setup have raised serious concerns about cross-border involvement and the extent of coordination behind the fraudulent network.
The involvement of a former FESCO board member in the ownership of the premises has drawn further scrutiny from federal investigative bodies. Intelligence sources are probing possible connections between the suspect and broader financial misconduct. Authorities are examining how such an extensive operation functioned without regulatory detection for a prolonged period and are expected to widen the investigation scope to identify any additional facilitators.
NCCIA has intensified efforts in recent months to crack down on cyber-enabled financial crimes, especially schemes involving digital fraud, phishing, fake investments, and unauthorised online business operations. This latest raid marks one of the largest mass arrests tied to online Ponzi operations in the country to date.
The arrested individuals are currently being interrogated, and their electronic devices, communication logs, and financial records have been seized for forensic analysis. Authorities are also coordinating with foreign missions for verification of the detained foreigners and exploring options for legal proceedings under cybercrime and anti-fraud laws.
