Pakistani authorities have arrested 212 people, including Chinese nationals, following raids on three illegal call centres in Islamabad suspected of running an international online fraud network, according to reports. The operation, conducted by Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), targeted facilities operating in the capital's E-11 and G-10 sectors.

How the Fraud Schemes Operated

According to the NCCIA, the call centres deployed multiple scam methods, including tasking fraud, romance or 'love-dating' scams, and impersonation of Google representatives. Tasking fraud typically lures victims with small initial payments for completing minor online tasks — such as liking videos, rating products, or promoting content — before pressuring them to deposit larger sums to unlock supposed higher-value earnings or withdraw funds. The scheme is designed to build false trust before the financial extraction begins.

Equipment and Evidence Seized

Authorities seized a substantial cache of digital equipment from the raided sites. An NCCIA spokesperson confirmed the recovery of 383 computers and CPUs, 306 mobile phones, and 299 monitors and laptops. The arrested individuals include both Pakistani and Chinese men and women, though Pakistani authorities have not disclosed the precise number of Chinese nationals detained in the current operation.

Pattern of Arrests: A Recurring Problem

This is not an isolated incident. In July last year, the NCCIA reported arresting 149 people — including 48 Chinese nationals and individuals from other countries — during a raid on a factory in Faisalabad. Those individuals were allegedly involved in hacking bank systems and other cybercrimes, operating from within the factory premises. A large quantity of laptops and gadgets was recovered in that operation as well. The recurrence of such raids underscores what critics argue is a persistent and organised cyber-fraud infrastructure operating within Pakistan, with reported involvement of foreign nationals.

Broader Context: China-Pakistan Cybercrime Links

The repeated presence of Chinese nationals in these operations has drawn attention to a broader regional pattern of cyber fraud syndicates operating out of South and Southeast Asia. Law enforcement agencies across the region have flagged the rise of organised 'cyber scam compounds' — some reportedly operating under coercive conditions — that target victims internationally. Pakistan's NCCIA has been increasingly active in cracking down on such networks, though analysts note that enforcement alone may be insufficient without addressing the structural conditions that allow these operations to proliferate.