ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) of Islamabad has dismantled a sophisticated eight-member gang involved in a major financial fraud operation, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
The arrests, made following a targeted raid near Khanna Bridge, concluded an extensive investigation into a high-tech scam targeting unsuspecting citizens.
The modus operandi of the ‘foreign relative’ scam was that the criminal group specialised in deceiving victims by posing as their relatives or friends residing abroad, specifically in the United Kingdom (UK). The suspects would contact victims under fabricated foreign identities.
They would then create elaborate, false narratives, often involving dire medical emergencies, to emotionally manipulate victims.
The ultimate goal was to coerce the victims into immediately transferring money to cover the ‘emergency’ expenses.
In one documented case, the group successfully defrauded a citizen of Rs1.5 million, which was transferred directly into the bank account of the main accused using a series of fake identities.
The successful raid was conducted by the NCCIA Islamabad team on December 12, 2025.
The eight individuals arrested in connection with the fraudulent scheme are: Muhammad Salman, Mohsin Jamil, Nazakat Ali, Mehtab Ali, Muhammad Shah Nawaz, Nasir Ali, Abid Hussain and Fahad Jabbar. A formal case has been registered against the suspects, and legal proceedings have commenced, the spokesman of the NCCIA concluded.
