- NCCIA arrested 154 people (112 men, 42 women) at an unregistered Islamabad call centre.
- The FIR alleges staff used the "Cashloan" app to access victims' galleries and contacts and send fabricated nude images.
- The court granted three days' physical remand for the men; the women were sent to Adiala Jail until Nov 28.
- The court noted there was no proof the Islamabad call centre was authorised to operate.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested 154 people from an Islamabad call centre that it says blackmailed users of online loan apps. An Islamabad court on Saturday granted physical remand of the men and sent the women to jail.
In this article
According to the FIR, the Islamabad call centre operated under the guise of a legitimate IT business, even though it had no registration with any regulatory authority.
How the alleged scheme worked at the Islamabad call centre
The FIR describes a structured operation. A borrower installs a loan app, which without their knowledge takes access to the phone's gallery and contacts. Fabricated nude images made from the victim's own pictures are then sent to people in their contact list until payment is made.
A four-member top management allegedly ran the centre. Team leaders supervised teams and supplied them with data taken from victims' phones, while recovery agents contacted borrowers through an app called "Cashloan" and accessed their galleries and personal details.
The FIR says that data was passed to a separate group, which blackmailed victims by sending superimposed nude images to their contacts for extortion.
| Group | Number | Remand sought | Court order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 112 | 10 days' physical remand | 3 days' physical remand; produce again on Nov 17 |
| Women | 42 | 14 days' judicial remand | Judicial remand at Adiala Jail until Nov 28 |
Apps and legal provisions named in the FIR
The Islamabad call centre, named Born CC / NZ Corporation, allegedly used the app to recover money for several international online loan apps. The FIR lists Rupee Free, Vcash, Wecash, Good life and Power full among them.
The case was registered on Nov 13 at the NCCIA's Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad, on the complaint of the State through Inspector Adeel Ahmed Sheikh, who is also the investigating officer. It followed a search and seizure during an enquiry, in which digital devices were recovered.
The FIR invokes the cyber crime law along with Pakistan Penal Code provisions on cheating and common intention.
Timeline
- Nov 13Case registered at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, Islamabad
- SaturdayAccused produced by video link; remand ordered for men, women sent to jail
- Nov 17Men to be produced before the court again
- Nov 28End of the women's judicial remand at Adiala Jail
Court grants remand to Islamabad call centre accused
The accused were produced by video link before Senior Civil Judge/Judicial Magistrate (West) Malak Aman in two batches: 112 men and 42 women. NCCIA Assistant Director (Legal) Asim Shahjahan also appeared.
The investigating officer sought 10 days' physical remand for the men and 14 days' judicial remand for the women. The court allowed three days' physical remand for the men and ordered that they be produced again on Nov 17. The women were sent to Adiala Jail on judicial remand until Nov 28.
The court noted that the accused were arrested at the spot and that there was no plausible explanation for their presence in the call centre's operations. It also observed that no documentary proof had been placed on record to show the Islamabad call centre was operating with proper authorisation.
Explained: what the Islamabad call centre case is about
The Islamabad call centre case centres on allegations set out in an FIR registered on Nov 13. The NCCIA says the 154 people were arrested at a centre that had no registration with any regulatory authority, while the FIR says it operated under the guise of a legitimate IT business.
In simple terms, the FIR alleges a chain of roles. A four-member top management allegedly ran the operation. Team leaders supervised teams and supplied them with data taken from victims' phones, and recovery agents contacted borrowers through the "Cashloan" app. The FIR says the data was then passed to a separate group that sent superimposed nude images to victims' contacts for extortion.
These are allegations in the FIR, together with the court's observations at the remand hearing. The court noted that the accused were arrested at the spot and that no documentary proof of authorisation was on record. At this stage the court has dealt with remand.
Key numbers in the Islamabad call centre case
Here are the figures in the Islamabad call centre case. A total of 154 people were arrested, made up of 112 men and 42 women. For the men, the investigating officer sought 10 days' physical remand and the court allowed three days. For the women, 14 days' judicial remand was sought and the court sent them to Adiala Jail until Nov 28.
The men are due to be produced before the court again on Nov 17, while the women remain in Adiala Jail on judicial remand until Nov 28. The next dates in the Islamabad call centre case are therefore Nov 17 for the men and Nov 28 for the end of the women's remand.
Islamabad call centre case: questions and answers
How many people did the NCCIA arrest?
The NCCIA says 154 people were arrested from the Islamabad call centre premises, made up of 112 men and 42 women.
What are the accused alleged to have done?
The FIR alleges they used a loan app to access borrowers' galleries and contacts, then sent fabricated nude images to their contacts to extort money.
What did the court order?
The court granted three days' physical remand for the men, to be produced again on Nov 17, and sent the women to Adiala Jail on judicial remand until Nov 28.
Was the call centre registered?
The FIR says the call centre had no registration with any regulatory authority and operated under the guise of a legitimate IT business. The court also observed that no documentary proof of proper authorisation had been placed on record.
Which apps are named in the FIR?
The recovery agents allegedly used an app called "Cashloan". The FIR also lists Rupee Free, Vcash, Wecash, Good life and Power full among the international online loan apps for which the centre allegedly recovered money. The centre is named Born CC / NZ Corporation.
Who registered the case and where?
The case was registered on Nov 13 at the NCCIA's Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad, on the complaint of the State through Inspector Adeel Ahmed Sheikh, who is also the investigating officer.
Who heard the case?
The accused were produced by video link before Senior Civil Judge/Judicial Magistrate (West) Malak Aman. NCCIA Assistant Director (Legal) Asim Shahjahan also appeared.
When will the accused appear in court again?
The men are due to be produced again on Nov 17. The women's judicial remand at Adiala Jail runs until Nov 28.
What is the Islamabad call centre case about?
The FIR alleges that the Islamabad call centre used a loan app to take phone data and blackmail borrowers with fabricated images. The NCCIA says it arrested 154 people there.
