A major identity theft and SIM fraud case has come to light in Karachi, where a man named Faraz Ashraf was arrested for illegally activating over 1,000 SIM cards — nearly 900 of them using stolen data of women from rural areas of Punjab.
The arrest was made by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) noticed a suspicious surge in SIM activations and filed a formal complaint. Upon investigation, the NCCIA traced the activity back to a mobile franchise in Karachi where Faraz worked and had access to registration tools.
In a well-coordinated raid, authorities arrested Faraz and recovered biometric devices, fake registration forms, CRM access, and computers used in the fraudulent operation. Officials revealed that in March 2025 alone, over 1,069 SIMs were activated — many using forged fingerprints on stolen CNICs of women who had no idea their personal data was being misused.
Further inquiry found that the franchise owner and manager were also involved. Together, they bypassed biometric checks and processed fake registrations, posing a serious national security risk. Such illegally issued SIMs have been linked to crimes like terrorism, financial fraud, blackmail, and online harassment.
An FIR has been registered under the PECA Act 2016 and the Pakistan Penal Code for identity theft, cheating, data misuse, and aiding criminal activity.
Authorities are now expanding the probe to find out if other franchises or telecom staff across the country are part of similar fraud networks. Citizens are strongly advised to safeguard their personal information and avoid sharing CNIC copies without reason. PTA also encourages everyone to check how many SIMs are registered under their name by texting their CNIC number to 668.
