NCCIA warns youth against jobs at illegal call centres

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has warned that illegal call centres, online betting platforms and international fraud networks are exploiting weaknesses in the existing system to launder money and defraud people.

The agency has also cautioned young people against accepting jobs at illegal call centres, saying that employees could face criminal proceedings if found involved in fraudulent activities.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, NCCIA Islamabad-Rawalpindi Additional Director Muhammad Shoaib Khan said investigations exposed weaknesses in the registration of companies and the opening of bank accounts, which were being exploited by criminal networks.

He explained that some operators first registered companies through inadequate verification procedures and then used the bank accounts opened in their names to handle money linked to loan applications, online betting and gaming platforms.

The NCCIA officer said that the accounts were connected to online portals to receive and transfer funds generated through illegal activities. He said the agency was working on proposals to improve the verification mechanisms followed by banks and other relevant institutions.

The additional director said the NCCIA had taken up the matter with senior officials at the policy level. Issues uncovered during investigations and questioning of suspects were also being shared with the relevant authorities to help close existing gaps.

He said particular attention was being given to one-person companies and similar business entities whose accounts could be misused after registration.

He also urged people looking for employment at call centres to check the legal status of the businesses before joining them. He advised parents to remain aware of their children's workplaces and verify whether the companies were involved in scams, fraud or other unlawful operations.

He said educated young people, including university students, were attracted to these jobs because of salaries higher than those generally offered elsewhere. However, they might end up becoming part of organised criminal activities.

The NCCIA official warned that an arrest and the registration of a first information report (FIR) could have lasting consequences for young employees, potentially affecting their ability to obtain character certificates or secure government employment in the future.

He said the agency's investigations also focused on establishing the individual responsibilities of people working at these centres rather than treating all employees as equally involved.