FIA arrests nine for blackmailing citizens through loan apps

The Federal Investigation Agency has arrested nine suspects and booked another 19 in connections with alleged blackmailing of citizens through loan-giving mobile phone applications, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The arrests followed after the FIA launched an investigation into the death of a man in Rawalpindi, who apparently committed suicide after getting “threats” from loan apps company over his inability to replay the ever-increasing interest on his debts.

On Thursday, a team of FIA’s Cybercrime Wing raided two offices of the loan app in G-8 sector of Islamabad, sealed the offices and confiscated laptops and other material.

In a statement issued on Friday, an FIA spokesperson said the cybercrime cell, along with the financial services, conducted raids in several areas of Rawalpindi during which nine suspects were held and first information reports were registered against 19.

“Inspector Badar Munir sealed a number of offices inside a plaza located on the Saidu Sharif Road,” the statement added.

The FIA said the suspects were given targets to make 100 to 150 calls a day to citizens, their friends and families on a daily basis. It added that in the raided offices, a separate department was being run to make what it described as “torture calls”.

The FIA said the departments were called “D-0, D-1, D-2, DS-1, DS-2, and DS-3” and the suspects would collect personal information of citizens through the loan apps. “Afterwards, they used it to harass people,” the statement said.

The FIA added that a significant amount of documents, computers, laptops and mobile SIM cards were taken into possession during the raid.

The arrested suspects were being interrogated, while an investigation was underway to nab others, it added.

 

Reporter Tayyab Said