# Karachi has 300 to 350 scam call centres, NCCIA says; 200 arrested and 329 laptops seized

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/pakistan/karachi-has-300-to-350-scam-call-centres-nccia-says-200-arrested-and-329-laptops)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 5 Nov 2026
Updated: 5 Nov 2026
Retrieved: 5 Nov 2026

> The cybercrime agency says the centres skim card details and empty bank accounts with fake offers. Women and teenagers were among those held. How the scams work and how to protect your card.

**Around 300 to 350 skimming and scam call centres are operating in Karachi, and more than 200 people have been arrested in a crackdown**, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Additional Director Shahzad Akbar told [ARY News](https://arynews.tv/karachi-has-up-to-350-scam-call-centres-says-nccia-official) on Thursday 5 November 2026. The agency seized **329 laptops**, each holding fake identities and credit card details, he said.

## What the NCCIA said

- **How many centres:** 300 to 350 in Karachi alone.
- **Arrests:** more than 200, including about 100 women and 42 teenagers.
- **Seized:** 329 laptops loaded with fake IDs and card data.
- **Target companies:** action was taken against one of three major companies in the business, which had faced action before.
- **Charges:** a case has been registered against the whole network, and parents of underage workers will also be brought into the legal process under Section 109, he said.

Akbar said the agency would give "no concession" to anyone involved, and that young people who should be in school were being employed in the centres. Local residents and retired people had also been targeted, he said.

## How these scams work

According to the NCCIA, the callers use fake profiles to hide who they are, lure card holders with "offers", and then use the card details to drain their accounts. In practice that usually means:

- A call or WhatsApp message claiming to be from your bank, a courier or a prize draw.
- A request for your card number, expiry date, CVV or the one-time password (OTP) sent to your phone.
- A small "verification" or "delivery" fee that opens the door to larger withdrawals.

## Protect yourself

1. **Never share an OTP or CVV** with anyone on the phone. Your bank will never ask for them.
2. **Hang up and call your bank** on the number printed on the back of your card.
3. **Turn on SMS alerts** for every card transaction, and block the card from your banking app the moment you see a charge you did not make.
4. **Report fraud** to the NCCIA's cybercrime complaint service and to your bank in writing the same day.

If you run a business that takes cards, check what card and cash withdrawal charges cost you with our [cash withdrawal tax calculator](/tools/tax/cash-withdrawal-tax-calculator).

Akbar also said the agency was acting against drug networks that sell to university students online, and against agents operating outside institutions who defraud the public.

## Frequently asked questions

**How many scam call centres are there in Karachi?**

About 300 to 350, NCCIA Additional Director Shahzad Akbar said on 5 November 2026.

**Will my bank ask for my OTP or CVV on the phone?**

No. Banks do not ask for an OTP or CVV by phone or WhatsApp. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card.

## Sources

- Karachi has up to 350 scam call centres, says NCCIA official (5 Nov 2026) (ARY News): https://arynews.tv/karachi-has-up-to-350-scam-call-centres-says-nccia-official

How to cite: "Karachi has 300 to 350 scam call centres, NCCIA says; 200 arrested and 329 laptops seized", Searchable, 5 Nov 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/pakistan/karachi-has-300-to-350-scam-call-centres-nccia-says-200-arrested-and-329-laptops