NCCIA registered 2,200 cases, arrested over 2,900 in 2025

Published on: January 7, 2026 2:31 AM

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), in its bid to make Pakistan a safe digital country, registered more than 2,200 cases and arrested over 2,900 suspects during 2025 as part of nationwide operations against cybercrime and digital fraud. NCCIA spokesman Syed Najeebul Hassan, in an interview with APP on Tuesday, said 774 challans were submitted to courts during the year, while recoveries amounting to Rs 461 million were made in financial fraud cases. He said the Agency’s main objective was to restore public trust in digital systems and build a secure digital ecosystem. “Our vision is clear: every Pakistani should be able to use the internet and modern technology without fear,” he said. The spokesman said a zero-tolerance policy had been adopted to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved in cybercrime, with the aim of achieving meaningful reductions in online fraud and cyberattacks. He said a structured strategy against financial fraud led to the blocking of more than 46,000 fake bank accounts to prevent the movement of illicit funds. The measure strengthened controls against digital financial crime. Syed Najeebul Hassan said large-scale action was also taken against online child abuse during 2025, resulting in the arrest of 35 suspects and the dismantling of five major local and international networks. He said financial fraud, fake calls and OTP scams caused the greatest losses to the public during the year, with fraudsters posing as bank officials, courier representatives, or employees of various organisations to obtain sensitive information and drain victims’ bank, JazzCash and Easypaisa accounts. The spokesman said hundreds of illegal loan applications were shut down under the zero-tolerance policy in coordination with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), leading to a marked decline in financial fraud and blackmail. He added that action was also taken against groups exploiting online gaming platforms, with thousands of illegal websites blocked to curb digital crime targeting young people.