Suspects accused of impersonating officials, hacking phones and running fake tax scams
National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested a 15-member gang accused of defrauding citizens through WhatsApp by impersonating government officials and hacking mobile phones and messaging accounts, officials said on Monday.
According to Punjab NCCIA Director Muhammad Ali Waseem, the suspects targeted citizens through WhatsApp, initially building trust before posing as senior government officers or customs officials.
Fake taxes and prize scams
Officials said the gang allegedly demanded money from victims under various pretexts, including fake taxes, fees and customs-related charges.
Investigators also found that the suspects used fake prize and gift schemes to lure victims before illegally gaining access to their mobile phones and WhatsApp accounts.
After compromising accounts, the group reportedly used victims’ contact lists and phone numbers to target additional individuals.
Evidence recovered in raid
During the operation, NCCIA officials recovered 16 mobile phones, multiple fake WhatsApp accounts, suspicious voice messages and fake JazzCash accounts.
Authorities said all recovered material has been taken into custody for forensic examination and further investigation.
Suspects identified
The arrested suspects were identified as Tehseen Saeed, Muhammad Saddam, Muhammad Ahsan, Muhammad Sohail, Muhammad Shan, Muhammad Rehan, Muhammad Muzammal, Zain Abbas, Umair Bashir, Ejaz Ahmed, Ali Hassan, Bahadur Ali, Muhammad Tariq, Muhammad Asif and Mohsin Ishaq.
Officials said all suspects are residents of Bahawalpur district.
Authorities warn citizens against online scams
Cybercrime officials urged the public to remain cautious while receiving calls or messages from unknown individuals claiming to represent government departments or financial institutions.
Authorities also advised citizens not to share verification codes, banking details or sensitive personal information through messaging platforms.