Hundreds Arrested in Ongoing Operation Against Illegal Call Centers in Pakistan

Islamabad: In a major crackdown against illegal call centers, hundreds of individuals have been arrested during an operation launched by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over the past month. The operation targeted 16 major call centers operating across the country.
Initial investigations have revealed that some of these illegal call centers are part of an international financial fraud network, with operations extending beyond Pakistan. Sources disclosed that the call centers involved profiling individuals from countries like the USA, India, Portugal, and Greece. After analyzing their social media profiles, the centers determine user preferences, such as interests in cars, watches, online shopping, clothing, and entertainment.
This data is then transferred abroad, where international networks use it to carry out financial frauds. These call centers recruit between 50 and 500 young individuals, often offering them employment in illegal activities. According to sources, special software and VPNs are used to conceal the centers’ activities.
The sudden increase in the number of call centers raised alarm among regulatory authorities, many of which had registered their operations with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to appear legitimate. However, NCCIA officials confirmed that several of these centers are engaged in illegal activities under the guise of registration.
The crackdown is ongoing, and the authorities have vowed to dismantle these fraudulent operations while continuing to monitor and investigate other suspicious activities related to financial fraud and cybercrime.