Three-Member Gang Arrested for Posing as Bank Officials and Defrauding Citizens

By Dr. Ansab Ali | Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Lahore has arrested a three-member gang allegedly involved in impersonating bank officials to obtain sensitive banking information from citizens and fraudulently withdraw funds from their accounts.

According to the NCCIA, the arrested suspects have been identified as Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Rizwan, and Samiullah. A case has been registered against them under FIR No. 131/2026 at NCCIA Police Station Lahore under various provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly posed as bank officers and managers, contacting citizens by phone and persuading them to disclose confidential information, including bank account details, ATM card data, and other sensitive credentials.

Authorities stated that the gang used the stolen information to gain unauthorized access to victims’ bank accounts and withdraw funds. According to the NCCIA, the suspects defrauded complainant Nadeem Karamat of approximately Rs1 million.

Investigators further disclosed that the accused allegedly enticed illiterate individuals to open bank accounts in exchange for monetary incentives and subsequently used those accounts to transfer and withdraw illegally acquired funds.

During the operation, law enforcement officials recovered three mobile phones and three cheque books from the suspects’ possession.

The arrests were made on the directives of Director NCCIA Punjab, Muhammad Ali Waseem, who reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to taking indiscriminate action against cybercriminals and ensuring strict legal proceedings against those involved in financial fraud.

Further investigations are being conducted by Sub-Inspector Muhammad Nabeel Hussain. Officials said efforts are underway to identify additional facilitators, trace other victims, and uncover the full extent of the fraud network.