Two individuals have been taken into custody by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency following the discovery of an unlawful lending operation based in Shangla by its Peshawar Circle, which targeted thousands of people with blackmail schemes using fraudulent loan applications.
During the operation, authorities confiscated over 30 mobile phones and laptops. Investigators also gathered personal information, call detail records, and contact lists belonging to the suspects.
Fraudulent lending programs were published on the Google Play Store by the suspects to lure individuals with minor financial advances, as explained by an agency representative. Personal photos and contact lists of the borrowers were accessed automatically once the software was downloaded onto a device.
Victims and their family members faced constant calls and messages containing threats, which the suspects used to pressure them into paying massive amounts of money.
Authorities filed a formal case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 while technical checks on the confiscated hardware continued. Nationwide efforts targeting unauthorized financial applications have been intensified by the agency, according to officials.
Citizens were urged by the spokesperson to avoid downloading unverified financial software and to refrain from giving them permission to view contact lists.
