A cybercrime investigation in Lahore has led to the arrest of 39 people, including a woman, over allegations of blackmailing borrowers through instant loan applications.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Cybercrime Additional Director Atif Ameer after search warrants were obtained. Investigators raided the premises of Talk Master Private Limited in GCP Society and arrested 38 men and one woman.
Authorities recovered 40 laptops and 41 mobile phones during the raid. The seized devices were taken into custody for further investigation.
According to investigators, the call centre was allegedly operating several instant loan applications, including Gurbat Fund, Jahez Fund, Cash Air, Credit Check and Credit Support.
Investigators said the applications could access users’ photo galleries and contact lists after being installed on their mobile phones.
Officials alleged that when borrowers failed to repay loans on time, call centre employees used artificial intelligence tools to manipulate their photographs and create explicit images. The suspects allegedly threatened to share the altered images with victims’ family members and other contacts unless immediate payments were made.
The seized laptops and mobile phones have been sealed and will be examined by forensic experts, officials said.
Investigators are also examining the financial transactions of the suspects and determining whether the alleged network had connections or operations outside Pakistan.
