The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested a 15-member gang in Lahore for allegedly being involved in WhatsApp fraud.
According to officials, the arrested suspects deceived citizens by posing as government officers and allegedly obtained millions of rupees from them. NCCIA officials said the operation was carried out on the basis of secret information, after which raids were conducted at different locations and key members of the gang were taken into custody.
Initial investigations revealed that the suspects were working through an organized network and were using modern technology to trap citizens. Officials said the suspects contacted people through fake WhatsApp accounts and different phone numbers, presented themselves as officers of government institutions, and obtained sensitive information from citizens through various excuses.
According to officials, the suspects sometimes lured people with claims of prizes, sometimes threatened them with legal action, and at other times asked for sensitive details under the pretext of bank account verification. After obtaining the information, money was withdrawn from citizens’ accounts or collected from them through different methods.
The NCCIA said 16 mobile phones, several fake WhatsApp accounts, SIMs, and other suspicious digital evidence were recovered from the arrested suspects. The seized digital devices have been shifted to a laboratory for forensic analysis to trace other members of the gang and identify possible victims.
Officials said cases have been registered against the suspects under the cybercrime law, and further investigation has been started. Raids are also being conducted to arrest other facilitators linked to the gang.
The NCCIA has warned citizens to remain careful about suspicious calls and messages received on social media and WhatsApp. The agency advised people not to share personal or banking information with any unverified person and to immediately report suspicious activity to the relevant authorities.
