Pakistan's Cybercrime Investigation Agency nabs 15 in back-to-back raids, Canada work-visa fraud
Faisalabad officers arrest eight more suspects a month after a 14.4-million-rupee case, as NCCIA steps up action against fraud targeting Pakistanis seeking jobs in Canada. The action targets scams that exploit Pakistanis seeking overseas employment opportunities, part of NCCIA's broader efforts to combat cyber-enabled immigration fraud through its Faisalabad regional unit.
ISLAMABAD, Sept 5, Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency said on Friday it had arrested eight suspects in Faisalabad in connection with an alleged fake Canadian work visa network, the latest in a series of operations targeting immigration fraud that has drawn victims seeking jobs in Canada.
The agency announced the arrests in a video briefing delivered by Sub-Inspector Amir Sultan of the NCCIA Faisalabad station.
It did not immediately release the names of the eight people detained.
Modus Operandi
Investigators detailed a four-step fraud pattern that NCCIA says is increasingly targeting Pakistanis seeking overseas employment:
- 1. Facebook Page: Create a professional-looking page "Canada Work Permit Visa" with Canadian flags, job offers, and testimonials.
- 2. WhatsApp Contact: Direct victims to private WhatsApp numbers for "quick processing."
- 3. Payments in Stages: Demand fees for processing, medical, embassy, and documentation at different stages.
- 4. No Visa Delivered: After collecting the amount, block the victim and vanish.
"Victims were lured via social media advertisements promising guaranteed Canadian work permits," the SHO said in his video message.
The action follows an August case in the same city in which NCCIA officers arrested seven other suspects accused of taking 14.4 million rupees ($51,000) from a Faisalabad resident, Muhammad Younis, after promising him a Canadian work permit and visa.
Those detained were identified as Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Asghar, Muhammad Nauman, Jan Muhammad, Umar Usman, Muhammad Huzaifa and Abdul Rauf.
Canada remains one of the most sought-after destinations for Pakistani workers and students, making its visa and work-permit processes a frequent target for fraud.
Pakistani authorities have treated such cases as a priority since the NCCIA was created in 2024 to replace the Federal Investigation Agency’s cybercrime wing.
Officials presented the Faisalabad raids as evidence that the relatively new agency is delivering results.
NCCIA Director General Syed Khurram Ali has directed provincial teams to pursue visa-related complaints, and the Faisalabad station has featured in several recent cases involving overseas employment offers.
Investigators said they collected financial and digital evidence after victims reported that promised Canadian documents never arrived.
Further inquiries into both the August and September networks are continuing, the agency said.
Key takeaways
Any incident of online visa fraud, job scams, or cyber-enabled financial fraud can be reported at:
Website: www.nccia.gov.pk
Helpline: 1991
Email: [email protected]
The agency said the Faisalabad action is part of its broader crackdown on cyber-enabled immigration fraud, illegal call centres, and embassy impersonation gangs operating across Punjab.