The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) arrested a woman on Wednesday for her alleged involvement in creating fake WhatsApp accounts and illegally trading activated mobile SIM cards.
The arrest was made following a complaint filed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). According to the NCCIA, the suspect, Safia Afzal, a resident of Sahiwal, allegedly obtained activated SIM cards through illegal means, used them to create fake WhatsApp accounts, and sold those accounts to various individuals.
NCCIA Investigation Officer Umme Salma said the suspect was part of an organised network that facilitated the misuse of digital identities. “Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other facilitators and associates linked to the network,” she said.
During the operation, the NCCIA recovered 310 active SIM cards belonging to different mobile companies, along with a mobile phone, from the suspect’s possession.
According to the investigation officer, all digital evidence has been taken into custody for forensic examination and technical analysis. The investigation aims to determine the scale of the network, trace financial transactions, analyse digital activities, and identify any additional individuals involved.
The NCCIA has registered a case against the suspect under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, as amended in 2025, along with other relevant provisions of the law.
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