NCCIA raids Islamabad call centre, detains 100 including foreigners
Foreign nationals among those detained
The presence of foreign nationals at the facility has added another aspect to the investigation.
According to the NCCIA spokesperson, 17 foreign nationals were among the 100 people detained during the operation. The agency is expected to examine the role of those present at the premises as the investigation continues.
The detention of foreign nationals also highlights the wider scrutiny of call centres operating in Islamabad. Authorities have previously taken action against similar facilities involving foreign nationals and alleged online fraud activities.
Evidence linked to online activities recovered
The NCCIA said investigators recovered evidence related to an unethical application from the call centre.
The agency also found material linked to financial schemes involving India and Brazil, according to its spokesperson. The recovered material is expected to help investigators determine how the facility was operating and whether it was connected to wider networks.
Officials have not yet provided details about the exact nature of the alleged financial schemes or the role of each person detained. Further findings are expected as investigators examine the seized material.
Call centre sealed after raid
Following the operation, authorities sealed the call centre. The NCCIA also took possession of data, electronic gadgets and other material found at the premises.
Such material can be important in cybercrime investigations because electronic devices may contain information about communications, financial transactions and online activities.
The agency can examine the seized devices to determine whether they were used in any alleged illegal activity. The investigation will also help establish whether other people or organisations were connected to the operation.
Investigation to determine individual roles
The detention of a large number of people does not by itself establish that every person was involved in illegal activity. Investigators will need to determine the individual role of each person taken into custody. The evidence recovered from the call centre will likely form an important part of the investigation.
Authorities may also examine digital records and other material to identify possible links with people operating outside Pakistan. Any further legal action will depend on the findings of the investigation and applicable law.
NCCIA continues crackdown on illegal call centres
The NCCIA spokesperson said action against illegal call centres is continuing across the country. The agency has been carrying out operations against facilities suspected of being involved in online fraud and other cyber-related offences.
In an earlier Islamabad case, the NCCIA arrested five foreign nationals accused of operating a call centre allegedly linked to online financial fraud. Investigators seized digital equipment and registered a case under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and the Pakistan Penal Code.
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More recently, the agency has also taken action against suspected illegal call centres in Karachi, where investigators reported finding digital material linked to alleged scams targeting foreign nationals.
Why illegal call centres are under scrutiny
Illegal call centres can become a concern for authorities when they are allegedly used for cyber fraud, impersonation, financial scams or other unlawful online activities. Such operations may use computers, phones, internet connections and digital platforms to contact people in Pakistan or other countries.
Investigators therefore examine electronic equipment and digital records during raids to understand how a facility was operating. The latest Islamabad operation is part of a wider focus on identifying and disrupting suspected cybercrime networks.
Data and gadgets taken into custody
The NCCIA said all data and gadgets found at the premises were taken into custody. The seized material may provide investigators with information about the activities carried out at the call centre.
Authorities can use digital evidence to trace communications, identify possible financial links and determine whether the facility was connected to other operations. The forensic examination of such material can take time, particularly when investigators need to review large amounts of digital information.
What happens next?
The investigation will determine the next legal steps in the case.
Authorities are expected to examine the evidence recovered during the raid and assess the role of the people detained. The NCCIA may also investigate whether the call centre was connected to individuals or networks operating in other countries.
Further action could follow if investigators find sufficient evidence of violations under relevant cybercrime or other laws. For now, the allegations remain under investigation, and individual responsibility will have to be established through the legal process.
