A recent investigation has uncovered that foreign scam networks operating from Pakistan are targeting individuals across multiple countries worldwide. This revelation follows a major crackdown by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which resulted in the arrest of 284 foreign nationals involved in alleged online fraud and other illicit activities.
After completing the necessary legal procedures, all 284 detainees were instructed last week to exit Pakistan within 15 days, provided they hold valid travel documents and fulfill all formalities. The probe has since broadened its scope to include scrutiny of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).
Authorities are also gathering information from immigration, passport, and visa departments to investigate the entry, residence, and business operations of these foreign nationals, alongside their suspected cybercrime networks. An Indonesian scammer, who arrived in Pakistan three months ago under the pretense of working as a chef, disclosed that their group consists of nine members—two Chinese and seven Indonesians.
He revealed that their operation generates approximately $80,000 monthly by targeting Indonesian women over the age of 40. The group, based in Pakistan, has been actively involved in defrauding victims abroad. In a significant development, the investigation has expanded beyond Pakistan’s borders to include potential victims and network associates overseas.
The FIA, in collaboration with the National Counter Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and local police, is meticulously examining financial transactions and digital infrastructure connected to these scammers to dismantle the network.
