MNAs and Senators Fall Victim to Online Scams

A Senate committee has been told that more than a dozen lawmakers, including senators and MNAs, have been targeted by cyber criminals, with cases ranging from financial fraud and identity theft to online harassment and defamation.

Officials from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) shared the details during a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Tuesday, warning that public representatives are increasingly being singled out by sophisticated scammers.

According to the briefing, multiple parliamentarians were tricked into sending money, while in other cases their personal identities were misused online. The NCCIA said arrests have been made in several incidents, though efforts are continuing to track down remaining suspects.

One of the most striking cases discussed involved Senator Falak Naz Chitrali, who allegedly received a call from a fraudster impersonating the CEO of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital. The scammers reportedly managed to extract Rs. 485,000. Officials told the committee that the suspects were arrested and the amount was recovered.

In another incident, Senator Bilal Ahmed Mandokhail was reportedly scammed by callers posing as the governor. Meanwhile, Rs. 490,000 was fraudulently taken from Sahibzada Hamid Raza, the panel was informed.

The NCCIA also briefed lawmakers about cases that went beyond financial losses. Senator Faisal Rehman, MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz, and Naz Baloch were reportedly subjected to online harassment and defamatory content.

In a separate case, officials said a fake social media account was created using the photograph of Deputy Chairman Senate Syedaal Khan, while Senator Palwasha was allegedly deceived through an online “investment” pretext.

Providing an overview of the broader cybercrime landscape, NCCIA officer DIG Irfanullah told the committee the agency has received 157,000 complaints. Out of these, 6,029 cases were formally registered, while 65,431 complaints were converted into inquiries.

The committee chairman remarked that the number of complaints suggests online fraud is widespread and affecting citizens far beyond high-profile victims.

DIG Irfanullah acknowledged that the agency is struggling with severe staffing shortages, stating that the NCCIA currently has 523 personnel nationwide.

Responding to concerns, the minister of state for interior told the committee that steps are underway to strengthen the agency through new recruitment, specialized training, and the planned establishment of 64 NCCIA police stations across the country. He added that despite limited manpower, the agency’s performance has been encouraging.

The interior minister also pointed to a major factor enabling fraud: the practice of people renting out their bank accounts. According to him, account holders receive small commissions while scammers use those accounts to move stolen funds.

He said the government has written to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to push for stronger banking security features aimed at reducing such abuse.