PETALING JAYA: Pakistani authorities have arrested 130 Malaysians following a raid on an online scam centre in Rawalpindi suspected of targeting victims in Malaysia.
Pakistani news portal ProPakistani reported that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) raided the premises at KASA Tower, Bahria Town Phase VIII, after obtaining a court warrant.
Investigators found that the syndicate allegedly posed as bank customer service officers to alert victims to supposedly suspicious transactions before transferring them to individuals impersonating Malaysian police officers.
The suspects allegedly threatened victims with money laundering accusations and criminal charges before pressuring them to transfer money. The proceeds were reportedly collected through e-wallets and converted into cryptocurrency.
Investigations indicated that the operation was allegedly run by a Malaysian based in Cambodia, with supervisors and call centre managers overseeing activities in Pakistan. A Chinese national suspected of receiving and converting the cryptocurrency into Pakistani rupees was also identified.
All 130 detainees were Malaysians, although some were also suspected of overstaying their visas or being in Pakistan without valid immigration documents. Their immigration status and individual involvement remain under investigation.
The case is being investigated under Sections 13, 14 and 16 of Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, alongside relevant Penal Code provisions covering extortion, impersonation, fraud and abetment.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the alleged organisers and financial handlers. The total losses, number of confirmed victims and value of assets seized have yet to be disclosed.
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