International online investment fraud network: Minister commends NCCIA for carrying out operation

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Home, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar has commended the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for carrying out a successful operation against an international online investment fraud network operating in Karachi.

Addressing a press conference along with the Additional Director NCCIA, the Home Minister said that a targeted intelligence based operation was conducted in DHA Phase-I and Phase-VI, Karachi, resulting in the arrest of 34 suspects, including 15 foreign nationals and 19 local individuals.

The Home Minister said the gang was involved in online investment scams, luring victims through social media platforms and Telegram groups into fraudulent cryptocurrency and forex schemes. Fake investment portals were used to win victims’ trust by displaying artificial profits through bot-generated activity and fabricated dashboards.

He added that investigations revealed the suspects had used thousands of foreign SIM cards and illegal gateway exchange setups to create fake social media and Telegram accounts. These accounts were used to generate false engagement, receive OTPs, and communicate with victims. Funds collected locally were routed through bank accounts, converted into cryptocurrency, and transferred across borders to international beneficiaries.

The Additional Director NCCIA Tariq Nawaz said that during the operation, law enforcement agencies seized 37 computer systems, 40 mobile phones, over 10,000 foreign SIM cards, and six illegal gateway exchange setups.

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