The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has shut down an illegal call centre Lahore authorities say was defrauding customers abroad, arresting 37 suspects in Johar Town Phase-I and seizing 80 digital devices.
How the Illegal Call Centre Lahore Raid Unfolded
According to the NCCIA, the operation was based on open-source intelligence. After approval from the Additional Director of NCCIA Lahore, a team obtained a search warrant from a competent court and raided the premises at Plot 103, Block F, Johar Town Phase-I. All 37 people found inside were taken into custody.
What the Suspects Are Accused Of
The agency says the suspects posed as representatives of mobile service providers in the United States and Canada. They allegedly offered mobile phones for sale to foreign customers, collected their credit and debit card details, and then used the information for unauthorised transactions. Investigators say the group relied on online dial-up and VoIP software to place the calls.
Devices Seized
The NCCIA recovered 80 digital devices from the site: five CPUs, 40 laptops and 35 mobile phones. These will now be examined by forensic teams for call records, stored card data and payment trails.
Case Registered Under PECA and Penal Code
A case has been registered as FIR No. 241/2026 on 10 October under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and the Pakistan Penal Code. The reported owner of the call centre was not present during the raid, and the investigation is under way to trace him.
An NCCIA spokesperson said further investigation is continuing to establish the role of each suspect, the scale of the alleged fraud and the digital evidence. All suspects are accused persons and the allegations are yet to be proven in court.
Why It Matters
Illegal call centres targeting overseas customers damage Pakistan’s image and its legitimate IT and outsourcing industry. The agency has stepped up action against such operations in Lahore and other cities in recent weeks.
