LAHORE:  The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested a group operating an illegal loan application in  Gulberg area of Lahore.

According to NCCIA, the group was blackmailing citizens through the app. The arrested suspects include Zohaib, Umar Ghafar, Asad Asghar, Azam-ul-Haq, and a foreign national identified as Li Ying.

Investigators revealed that the suspects gained unauthorized access to mobile data under the guise of providing loans.

Using VOIP software, victims were tricked into downloading the app, which allowed the group to steal personal data, including contacts and photo galleries.

NCCIA stated that the suspects were blackmailing citizens by threatening to leak private information in case of loan defaults. Officials added that the illegal loan application was tarnishing Pakistan’s reputation globally.

According to the agency, the group had set up offices across three floors of a building in Gulberg. A case has been registered against them under charges of illegal access, data theft, and financial fraud.