# NCCIA arrests 1,129 cybercrime suspects in a month, returns Rs 105.3 million to victims

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/pakistan/nccia-arrests-1129-cybercrime-suspects-in-a-month-returns-rs-1053-million-to)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 20 Oct 2026
Updated: 20 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 20 Oct 2026

> The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency received 5,176 complaints in its new chief's first month. Here is what the numbers show and how to protect yourself.

The **National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) arrested 1,129 suspects** in a nationwide crackdown over the past month and **returned Rs 105.3 million** to people who had been defrauded, the agency said on Sunday, [Dawn reported](https://www.dawn.com/news/2038184). The figures come from a one-month performance report issued after **Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi** took charge as the agency's director general.

"National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency" is one of the most searched terms in Pakistan on Google today.

## The month in numbers

| Measure | Past month |
| --- | --- |
| Complaints received | 5,176 |
| Inquiries registered | 4,491 |
| Cases registered after inquiry | 272 |
| Suspects arrested | 1,129 |
| Money returned to victims | Rs 105.3 million |

Roughly **one complaint in 19 has so far become a registered case**: 272 out of 5,176 complaints. Most complaints stay at the inquiry stage while evidence is gathered, so the case count can rise over the coming weeks. The amount returned works out to about Rs 20,000 for every complaint received, though the agency did not say how many victims shared the Rs 105.3 million.

For scale, the agency investigated 2,196 cases and detained 2,902 people in the whole of 2025, its spokesman told [Dawn](https://www.dawn.com/news/1964176) last December. A month with 1,129 arrests is a much faster pace.

## What the new DG said

Rizvi said protecting people's digital safety is a priority and that the agency will keep a zero-tolerance policy against cybercrime. He called the protection of people, institutions and digital infrastructure "a national imperative", not only a law-enforcement job.

The NCCIA took over cybercrime work from the FIA's cyber wing and handles complaints under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA): online fraud, hacking, harassment, blackmail and fake websites.

## How to protect yourself

- **Never share a one-time code** (OTP) or your banking PIN with a caller, even one who says he is from a bank, the PTA or the NCCIA.
- **Check websites before paying.** NADRA warned on Tuesday about fake arms licence sites; the same trick is used for passports, bills and jobs.
- **Check the SIMs on your CNIC.** A number registered in your name can be used for fraud. Our guide shows [how to check SIMs on your CNIC with 668](/guides/telecom/how-to-check-sims-registered-on-your-cnic-668-sms-and-cnicsimspk).
- **Report quickly.** File a complaint through the NCCIA's official channels and tell your bank at once if money has left your account: the sooner a transfer is flagged, the better the chance of freezing it.

## Frequently asked questions

**How many people did the NCCIA arrest in the past month?**

1,129 suspects, from 5,176 complaints and 4,491 inquiries, with 272 cases registered and Rs 105.3 million returned to victims, the agency said on 18 October 2026.

**Who is the NCCIA director general?**

Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi. The one-month report covers his first month in charge.

## Sources

- NCCIA arrests 1,129 suspects (19 Oct 2026) (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/2038184
- NCCIA 2025 annual figures (31 Dec 2025) (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/1964176

How to cite: "NCCIA arrests 1,129 cybercrime suspects in a month, returns Rs 105.3 million to victims", Searchable, 20 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/pakistan/nccia-arrests-1129-cybercrime-suspects-in-a-month-returns-rs-1053-million-to