NCCIA Arrests 281 at 7 Lahore Call Centres, Recovers Rs 19.2 Million
NCCIA says it arrested 281 people, 21 of them foreigners, at 7 Lahore call centres and recovered Rs 19.2 million. Seizures and what to do if you lost money.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) says it arrested 281 people in a week of raids on seven illegal call centres in Lahore. Its Lahore Zone Additional Director, Atif Ameer, gave the figures at a press conference on Friday, 9 October 2026. He said the centres were linked to financial fraud, online harassment and honey-trapping, which means luring people into a fake relationship and then blackmailing them.
The agency also says it recovered Rs 19.246 million in fraud cases that ran through JazzCash, Easypaisa and bank accounts. That is the part that matters most to ordinary wallet users in Pakistan.
We could not open NCCIA's own website to read a written statement, because it showed a bot check when we tried on 9 October. So the figures below are the ones the additional director gave at the press conference, as reported the same day.
NCCIA says 281 people were arrested at 7 Lahore call centres
NCCIA says 281 suspects were arrested in a week-long crackdown on seven illegal call centres in Lahore. Of them, 260 are Pakistani and 21 are foreign nationals. Twenty women are among those arrested. The centres are accused of fraud, harassment and honey-trapping.
The 21 foreign nationals were named by country. NCCIA says 12 are Chinese, 5 are Filipino, 2 are Vietnamese, 1 is Malaysian and 1 is Nepali.
This is the largest single NCCIA count we have seen this year for one city. Late in September the agency reported 61 arrests at one call centre in Rawalpindi. On 7 October it reported 39 arrests in Lahore over loan app blackmail. The agency did not say whether those 39 are counted inside the new 281, and we could not confirm it either way.
| Detail | What NCCIA said on 9 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Call centres raided | 7, all in Lahore |
| People arrested | 281 (260 Pakistani, 21 foreign) |
| Women among them | 20 |
| Foreign nationals | 12 Chinese, 5 Filipino, 2 Vietnamese, 1 Malaysian, 1 Nepali |
| Accused of | Financial fraud, online harassment, honey-trapping |
| Money recovered | Rs 19.246 million in 5 cases and 10 inquiries |
| Not stated | Names of the centres, number of victims, FIR numbers |
The raids seized 362 phones and 550 SIM cards
NCCIA says it seized 362 mobile phones, 191 computer systems, 74 laptops, 127 other digital devices and 550 SIM cards. The equipment is now being examined by forensic teams. That check is what usually turns a raid into a court case.
The 550 SIM cards stand out. Scam call centres need a large stock of numbers, because each number gets reported and blocked after a few calls. If even one of those SIMs was issued on your CNIC without your knowledge, it could have been used to call other people.
That is a good reason to run a quick check today. You can check the SIMs registered on your CNIC with PTA's free service and block any number you did not buy.
Rs 19.246 million was recovered from wallet and bank fraud cases
NCCIA says it recovered Rs 19.246 million in 5 registered cases and 10 inquiries. The money had moved through JazzCash, Easypaisa and bank accounts. Investigations are still going on. The agency did not say how much of this has already been handed back to victims.
An inquiry is the step before a case. The additional director explained that NCCIA first completes an inquiry and gets approval from its committee. Only then is a formal case registered. So a complaint can take some time before it becomes an FIR, and that is normal, not a sign that it has been dropped.
Recovery is never certain. It is much more likely when the victim reports within hours, while the money is still sitting in the receiving wallet. Once it is withdrawn in cash, it is very hard to trace back.
What to do if a call centre scam has cost you money
Call your bank or wallet first, because only they can block your account and try to hold the money. Then file a complaint with NCCIA on the same day, with every transaction ID and screenshot you have. Speed matters more than anything else.
- Call your bank or wallet helpline at once. Say the word "fraud" and ask them to block your app, card and account. Ask for a complaint number.
- Write down the details. Note the transaction ID, the amount, the time and the number or account that received the money.
- Change your passwords and PIN. Change your MPIN, app password and email password from a phone you trust.
- File with NCCIA. Use its online complaint channel and attach screenshots of calls, messages and transfers. Keep the reference number.
- Escalate if the bank is slow. If your bank or wallet does not answer properly, you can take it further to the State Bank or the Banking Mohtasib.
Our step-by-step pages on how to report a cybercrime to NCCIA and on getting money back after an unauthorised Easypaisa or JazzCash transfer go through each of these in detail.
NCCIA Lahore holds open courts three days a week
The additional director said NCCIA's Lahore Zone holds open courts three days a week to hear public complaints. This is a chance to raise a stuck complaint in person. He did not name the days, the times or the address at the press conference.
If your complaint has gone quiet, an open court is worth a visit. Take your CNIC, your complaint reference number and printed copies of your evidence. Call ahead or ask at the NCCIA Lahore office to confirm the day before you travel.
The press conference also covered cases of online blackmail with private photos and cases involving abuse material of children. NCCIA said it is using artificial intelligence tools and working with international groups to find such material. If someone is threatening to share your photos, read how to report online blackmail in Pakistan and do not pay.
Most call centre fraud starts with a phone call from someone pretending to be a bank, PTA or NCCIA itself. Before you share anything, learn how to spot a fake PTA, NCCIA or bank call. A real officer will never ask for your OTP or PIN.
Common questions
How many people did NCCIA arrest in Lahore?
281, according to NCCIA's Lahore Zone on 9 October 2026. They were arrested in a week of raids on seven illegal call centres. 260 are Pakistani and 21 are foreign nationals.
How much money did NCCIA recover?
Rs 19.246 million, in 5 cases and 10 inquiries. The fraud ran through JazzCash, Easypaisa and bank accounts. NCCIA did not say how much has been returned so far.
What is honey-trapping?
It is a scam where someone pretends to want a friendship or relationship online. They then collect private chats, photos or videos and use them to blackmail the victim for money.
Can I get my money back if I was scammed by a call centre?
Sometimes. Your chances are best if you call your bank or wallet within hours and file with NCCIA the same day, before the money is withdrawn.
Does NCCIA ever call and ask for my OTP?
No. NCCIA, PTA, your bank and your wallet do not need your OTP or PIN. Anyone asking for it on a call or message is a scammer.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 9 October 2026 at about 20:00 Pakistan time. The figures come from the press conference given in Lahore on 9 October 2026 by NCCIA Lahore Zone Additional Director Atif Ameer, as reported that day. We tried NCCIA's website and it returned a bot check, so we could not read a written statement there. PTA's free SIM check service is run by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
About the author
Technology Journalist & Multimedia Producer
Ahmad Ali is a technology journalist and multimedia producer at Pakistan Era, joining the team in October 2026. He covers consumer technology and digital life for Pakistani readers, combining research with hands-on product testing.
