Summary NCCIA has revealed the recovery of fingerprints and biometric data of 600,000 citizens during a raid. Officials also disclosed the misuse of SIMs, bank accounts and leaked data for fraud.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has revealed that fingerprints and biometric data of 600,000 citizens were recovered from suspects during a raid.
Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior, NCCIA officials said a suspect arrested from Faisalabad was also found in possession of 195 active mobile SIMs, 16 smartphones and 81 ATM cards from different banks.
According to the NCCIA director, the stolen biometric data and recovered SIMs were being used to carry out large-scale financial fraud against citizens.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman told the committee that 18 million fraudulent SIMs issued in the names of other individuals have so far been blocked, while telecom companies have collectively been fined Rs4.5 billion.
Standing Committee on Interior Chairman Khurram Nawaz said during the meeting that citizens receive calls from fraudsters posing as courier company representatives every week. He also revealed that his WhatsApp account had been hacked.
The PTA chairman acknowledged that some employees of mobile companies were also involved in leaking users’ data. He said that in Rajanpur, a woman was asked to provide her thumb impression on the pretext of receiving ration, after which a SIM was issued in her name and later used in a terrorist activity.
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry told the meeting that a new “rent-a-bank-account” scheme was also operating in Pakistan, under which people allow others to use their bank accounts in exchange for money.
According to Talal Chaudhry, such account holders are aware that they could face imprisonment if illegal activity is detected, but still allow others to use their accounts for a pre-agreed amount.
