NCCIA warns youths against illegal call centres and gambling apps

Agency issues public warning

Additional Director Muhammad Shoaib Khan addressed a press conference to alert students and parents regarding fraudulent job offers. He explained that fake companies register with weak verification before linking bank accounts to loan apps for illicit funds. Khan urged workers to ask employers about company registration documents and the source of money entering their applications. Parents were specifically asked to check if their children work at centres conducting scams or fraud.

Arrests made in raids

Law enforcement intensified operations against online gambling operators and illegal call centres across the twin cities and other regions. Authorities arrested 143 suspects during a raid on an Islamabad facility spread over four floors where victims were blackmailed. Another operation in Rawalpindi resulted in the arrest of 11 people from a centre operating for one-and-a-half months. Investigators found foreign nationals involved in these schemes and said they would approach respective embassies for access.

Financial traps explained

The agency noted that operators initially offered profits to attract users before assessing their financial capacity to extract money. Suspects gained access to phone galleries to obtain sensitive personal data which they converted into obscene material for blackmail. According to Khan, individuals engaging in acts against the state will encounter severe legal consequences as mandated by current laws.