Pakistani authorities have arrested 130 Malaysian nationals following a raid on a suspected online scam hub located in Rawalpindi. The operation, conducted by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) at KASA Tower in Bahria Town, targeted a syndicate accused of defrauding victims back in Malaysia.
Modus Operandi and Investigation
According to investigators, the syndicate operated by impersonating bank customer service representatives. Victims were contacted regarding alleged suspicious transactions and subsequently transferred to individuals posing as Malaysian police officers. These callers reportedly coerced victims into transferring funds by threatening them with fabricated money laundering charges. The illicit proceeds were funneled through e-wallets and converted into cryptocurrency.
Preliminary findings suggest the operation was directed by a Malaysian individual based in Cambodia, with local call center managers overseeing the daily activities in Pakistan. Authorities also identified a Chinese national suspected of facilitating the conversion of cryptocurrency into Pakistani rupees.
The detainees are currently being investigated under Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, as well as Penal Code provisions related to fraud, extortion, and impersonation. Beyond the scam allegations, officials are reviewing the immigration status of the detainees, as several are suspected of overstaying their visas or lacking valid travel documentation. Investigations remain ongoing to determine the full scale of the syndicate's financial impact and the extent of individual involvement.
