ISLAMABAD – July 1, 2025: In a sweeping crackdown on cyber fraud and digital money laundering, Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has shut down 12 illegal call centres and arrested 93 individuals — including several foreign nationals — under a special operation codenamed Operation Grey.
Launched in early June, the month-long campaign targeted networks running sophisticated online scams and unauthorised financial transfers under the guise of call centre operations. Officials say these call centres were being used as a front to carry out large-scale international fraud, with victims spread across North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions.
“The aim is clear — to break the backbone of these digital crime syndicates,” said NCCIA Director General Waqaruddin Syed. “We are following a strict zero-tolerance policy. There will be no safe haven for cybercriminals in Pakistan.”
So far, authorities have sealed 12 illegal facilities and arrested 93 suspects, including six foreign nationals and three local facilitators. Investigators believe the networks were siphoning off large sums of money and moving them abroad through illegal digital channels.
“These weren’t just petty scams. We’re talking about well-organized operations that were damaging Pakistan’s digital reputation and exploiting foreign victims on a massive scale,” a senior NCCIA official said on condition of anonymity.
The crackdown is part of a broader effort by the federal government to clamp down on cybercrime, which has seen a sharp rise in recent years due to the growing use of online platforms for financial transactions and remote work.
Authorities have vowed that Operation Grey will continue until all such networks are dismantled, warning that any businesses or individuals aiding these illegal operations will face full legal consequences.
The NCCIA has also urged the public to remain vigilant, report suspicious online activities, and avoid engaging with unverified overseas job offers or money transfer schemes — common entry points for digital fraud.
