- The NCCIA arrested 154 people, 112 men and 42 women, at an unregistered call centre in Islamabad.
- The FIR alleges victims' phone data was used to send fabricated nude images to their contacts for extortion.
- The court granted three days' physical remand for the men and sent the women to Adiala Jail until Nov 28.
- The court noted that no documents showed the call centre was authorised to operate.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested 154 people at an Islamabad call centre accused of blackmailing users of online loan apps. According to the FIR, the operation ran like a company, complete with management, team leaders and separate groups for recovery and extortion.
An Islamabad court heard the case on Saturday. It granted physical remand of the male suspects and sent the women to jail on judicial remand.
How the alleged scheme worked
The FIR describes a pattern in which a borrower installs a loan app that quietly gains access to the phone's gallery and contacts. Fabricated nude images made from the victim's own pictures are then sent to people in that contact list, and the pressure continues until the victim pays.
The FIR alleges the call centre operated under the cover of a legitimate IT business and was run by a four-member top management. Team leaders supervised staff and supplied them with data taken from victims' phones.
Recovery agents allegedly contacted victims through an app called "Cashloan" and accessed their galleries and personal details. That information was passed to a separate group, which allegedly sent the superimposed images to contacts in order to extort money.
| Group | Number | Remand sought | Court order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 112 | 10 days' physical remand | 3 days' physical remand; to appear again on Nov 17 |
| Women | 42 | 14 days' judicial remand | Judicial remand in Adiala Jail until Nov 28 |
The call centre and the case
The FIR names the centre as Born CC / NZ Corporation. It says the centre used the app to recover money on behalf of several international online loan apps, including Rupee Free, Vcash, Wecash, Good life and Power full. It also states that the centre was not registered with any regulatory authority.
The case was registered on Nov 13 at the NCCIA's Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad. The complainant is the State, through Inspector Adeel Ahmed Sheikh, who is also the investigating officer.
The FIR followed a search and seizure during an enquiry, in which digital devices were recovered. It 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 in Islamabad
- SaturdayAccused produced by video link; court grants remand orders
- Nov 17Men to be produced before the court again
- Nov 28Date until which the women are on judicial remand in Adiala Jail
What the court decided
The suspects appeared 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 in court.
The investigating officer asked for 10 days' physical remand for the men and 14 days' judicial remand for the women. The court instead 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.
In its observations, the court noted that the accused had been arrested at the spot. It found no plausible explanation for their presence in the call centre's operations.
Questions over authorisation
The court also observed that no documentary proof had been placed on record to show the call centre was working with proper authorisation.
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.
Questions and answers
How many people did the NCCIA arrest?
The NCCIA says 154 people were arrested from the call centre premises in Islamabad: 112 men and 42 women.
What are the accused alleged to have done?
The FIR alleges they used a loan recovery app to access victims' galleries and contacts. It says fabricated nude images were then sent to the victims' 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. The women were sent to Adiala Jail on judicial remand until Nov 28.
