15-member gang involved in WhatsApp fraud and mobile hacking arrested

By Dr Ansab Ali | Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: The Punjab chapter of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has carried out a major operation and arrested a 15-member organized gang allegedly involved in deceiving citizens through WhatsApp, impersonating government officials to commit financial fraud, and hacking mobile phones and WhatsApp accounts.
The operation was conducted on the instructions of Director Punjab NCCIA, Muhammad Ali Wasim.
According to SHO Tahir, the group allegedly contacted citizens through WhatsApp, initially building friendly relations before impersonating senior government officials or customs officers. The suspects would then demand money from victims under various pretexts and allegedly force them to pay fake taxes or fees.
Investigations revealed that the suspects also lured citizens with fake prize schemes and gift offers. During the process, they allegedly gained unauthorized access to victims’ mobile phones and WhatsApp accounts. After hacking the accounts, the gang reportedly used those numbers and contact lists to target more people.
During the operation, authorities recovered 16 mobile phones, multiple fake WhatsApp accounts, suspicious voice messages, and fake JazzCash accounts. All evidence has been taken into custody for further investigation.
The arrested suspects were identified as Tehseen Saeed, Muhammad Sadaam, Muhammad Ahsan, Muhammad Sohail, Muhammad Shaan, Muhammad Rehan, Muhammad Muzammil, Zain Abbas, Umair Bashir, Ijaz Ahmed, Ali Hassan, Bahadur Ali, Muhammad Tariq, Muhammad Asif, and Mohsin Ishtiaq, all residents of Bahawalpur district.
Authorities said efforts are underway to trace other possible facilitators of the gang, and further arrests are expected.
The Director NCCIA Punjab appreciated the performance of Sub-Inspector Tahir Mahmood and his team, praising their efforts and announcing a cash reward for them.