Pakistan detains 212 people in fraudulent call center case — Jerusalem Post

In Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, law enforcement officers detained 212 people during raids on three illegal call centers that investigators believe were linked to an international online fraud network. Those detained include Chinese citizens, but authorities did not disclose their exact number.

As The Jerusalem Post reports, Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency conducted simultaneous operations in the E-11 and G-10 sectors over the past 24 hours. According to officials, the call centers may have defrauded people both in Pakistan and abroad.

Fraud schemes

Investigators said the operators allegedly used several schemes, including impersonating Google representatives, using so-called task scams, and romance scam schemes.

Task scams involve fake offers to earn money for simple online actions, such as liking videos, rating products, or promoting content. Fraudsters may make small payments to gain trust and later persuade people to transfer larger sums to complete supposedly more expensive tasks or withdraw fictitious earnings.

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Seized equipment and investigation

The state news agency Associated Press of Pakistan, citing an agency representative, reported that 306 mobile phones, 383 computers and system units, as well as 299 monitors and laptops, were seized during the raids.

Those detained include men and women from Pakistan and China. A case has been registered, and the call center premises were temporarily designated as a prison due to the large number of suspects. Investigators are also examining the network's possible financial links and reported probable contacts with groups in India and Brazil.

The operation took place amid broader action by Pakistani authorities against illegal call centers and organized cyber fraud. In July 2025, the agency detained 149 people, including 48 Chinese citizens, during a raid in Faisalabad in a case involving alleged pyramid schemes and investment fraud.