Interior Minister Orders NCCIA to Act Faster on Online Fraud in Pakistan
Mohsin Naqvi told the NCCIA to act faster on online fraud so victims' money can be held. What changed, and who to call first if money leaves your account.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday 27 September 2026 told the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to step up action against online financial fraud, digital blackmail, harassment and organised cybercrime gangs in Pakistan. He chaired a meeting at the agency's Central Zone headquarters in Lahore.
The instruction that matters most for ordinary people is about speed. The minister asked for a stronger "immediate response mechanism" for financial fraud complaints, so the agency can work with other institutions quickly enough to secure victims' money and trace the people behind it.
This is a direction from the minister, not a new law, fee or helpline. No new complaint channel was announced. What it does is tell you what the agency is being pushed to do, and it is a good moment to check that you know the right order of steps if money leaves your account.
The minister ordered faster action on online fraud complaints
Mohsin Naqvi directed the NCCIA to act against organised groups running online financial fraud, fake accounts, digital blackmail and online harassment. He asked for a faster response to fraud complaints, better digital forensics, modern forensic tools and special training for investigation officers.
According to the government's account of the meeting, these were the main instructions:
| Instruction | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Intensify operations | Online financial fraud, harassment, digital blackmail, organised cybercrime networks |
| Action against organised groups | Fraud rings, fake accounts, blackmail and harassment |
| Immediate response mechanism | Faster work on fraud complaints so victims' funds can be secured |
| Coordination | Timely contact with other institutions to trace suspects |
| Forensics and training | Better digital forensic capacity, modern tools, trained investigators |
No deadline, target or budget was given. We will treat it as a policy push until the agency announces a concrete change, such as a new hotline or a response time.
Speed decides whether stolen money can be held
In a fraud case, the first hours matter most. Money that has just moved can sometimes be held in the receiving account before it is withdrawn. Once it is split across many accounts or cashed out, getting it back becomes much harder.
That is why the minister's focus on an immediate response is the useful part of the story. But the agency is only one of the doors you need to knock on. Your bank can act on your own account faster than any investigator, and it has its own rules to follow.
Call your bank first, then report to the NCCIA
If money has left your account, call your bank or wallet helpline at once and ask them to block the channel and flag the transaction. Then file a cybercrime complaint with the NCCIA. Do both on the same day, because one does not replace the other.
- Call your bank or mobile wallet helpline. Block your card, app or account, and report the exact transaction.
- Ask for a complaint number, and write down the time you called.
- Save evidence: screenshots, the fraudster's number or account, messages and transaction IDs. Do not delete chats.
- File a complaint with the NCCIA, and attach the same evidence.
- Report the fraud number to the PTA so the SIM can be checked.
Your bank's numbers are in the list of bank helpline numbers in Pakistan. The PTA complaint app now has a section for mobile numbers used in fraud.
Your bank must give a final reply within 30 days
The State Bank of Pakistan requires banks to acknowledge a complaint within 48 hours. In fraud cases, the bank must issue its final reply within 30 days of the complaint. If it does not, or you disagree, you can go to the Banking Mohtasib.
We read these rules on the State Bank's consumer protection page. The acknowledgement should confirm receipt, explain the process, give a timeline and give a contact for follow-up. If a denial comes, the bank must give reasons.
The Banking Mohtasib is free and handles "fraudulent or unauthorised withdrawals or debit entries in accounts", in the State Bank's own words. The full timeline is in your bank's 30-day fraud deadline, and the next stage is the Banking Mohtasib complaint.
The NCCIA replaced the FIA's cybercrime wing
The NCCIA is the federal agency for cybercrime, set up under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025. The FIA's own website now sends cybercrime complaints to the NCCIA complaint portal. General FIA complaints, such as bank forgery, still go to the FIA.
We checked the FIA website on 27 September 2026. Its overseas page has a button labelled "NCCIA Cyber Crime Complaint" that links to complaint.nccia.gov.pk. The NCCIA's own site refused our automated request, which is a bot check and not proof that it is down, so open it in a normal browser.
The helpline most often given for the NCCIA is 1799. We could not read it on the agency's site, so treat it as reported. The steps for filing, and what evidence to keep, are in how to report a cybercrime in Pakistan.
Common questions
What did the Interior Minister tell the NCCIA on 27 September 2026?
To intensify action against online financial fraud, blackmail, harassment and organised cyber gangs, and to respond faster to fraud complaints so victims' money can be secured.
Is there a new NCCIA helpline or app?
No. No new number, app or portal was announced at the meeting. The existing complaint portal is linked from the FIA website.
Who should I contact first if money is stolen online?
Your bank or wallet provider, straight away. Then file a complaint with the NCCIA on the same day.
How long does a bank have to answer a fraud complaint?
30 days for a final reply, under State Bank rules. The bank must acknowledge the complaint within 48 hours.
Does the FIA still take cybercrime complaints?
The FIA's website sends cybercrime complaints to the NCCIA portal. The FIA still handles other crimes, including bank forgery and fraud.
Last checked and sources
Last checked on 27 September 2026. The minister's instructions come from the government's account of the meeting at the NCCIA Central Zone headquarters in Lahore on 27 September 2026. The bank complaint timelines and the Banking Mohtasib's jurisdiction are from the State Bank of Pakistan's consumer protection page. The link from the FIA website to the NCCIA complaint portal is from the FIA's overseas page. The NCCIA's legal basis is the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, published in the Gazette of Pakistan on 29 January 2025. The 1799 helpline is reported, because the NCCIA website refused our request.
About the author
Author
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
