Pakistani cybercrime authorities have arrested 39 people in a raid on an alleged illegal call center in Lahore. The group included 38 men and one woman. Police detained them at the premises of Talk Master Private Limited in Lahore’s GCP Society. Investigators say the staff ran a loan app scam that threatened borrowers with digitally altered explicit images.
Additional Director Cyber Crime Atif Ameer supervised the raid after investigators obtained search warrants. Moreover, the team seized 40 laptops and 41 mobile phones during the operation. Officials have sealed the devices for forensic examination.
Meanwhile, authorities are examining financial records to determine how much money the operation generated. They are also checking whether the alleged network had links beyond Pakistan. Investigators hope the seized devices will reveal how the network operated day to day.
According to officials, the call center operated several instant-loan applications. These included Gurbat Fund, Jahez Fund, Cash Air, Credi Check and Credit Support. Furthermore, the applications sought access to users’ photo galleries and contact lists once installed. Investigators allege the operators later used that information to pressure borrowers who missed repayment deadlines.
Borrowers who installed them therefore gave the operators access to sensitive personal data. Employees allegedly used artificial intelligence tools to manipulate borrowers’ photographs and create explicit images. Then, they threatened victims with sharing the images with relatives and other contacts. However, the threats allegedly stopped only if borrowers made immediate payments.
Therefore, the scheme turned personal data into a tool for blackmail. Officials have not yet said how much money the operation generated. The investigation is continuing.
Finally, forensic analysis of the seized devices is expected to provide further evidence about the operation and those involved. Still, the case shows how a loan app scam can exploit the personal data that users hand over. It also highlights the risks of installing instant-loan applications from unverified sources.