130 Malaysians detained in Rawalpindi over alleged scam call centre
Malaysia’s police chief, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail, confirmed on 31 October that 130 Malaysians were detained by Pakistani authorities in Rawalpindi over their alleged involvement in a cybercrime syndicate. He said Malaysian police were working with Pakistani authorities through the Foreign Ministry to get full details.
Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) raided a call centre at KASA Tower in Bahria Town Phase VIII, Rawalpindi, after obtaining a court warrant, according to Pakistani media reports. The people detained are Malaysian passport holders from various ethnic backgrounds. Some had valid visas, while others had overstayed, the police chief said.
The suspects allegedly contacted victims in Malaysia through internet calling apps while posing as bank customer service officers, claiming there were suspicious transactions in their accounts. The calls were then passed to others posing as Malaysian police officers, some of whom appeared in uniform on video calls and threatened victims with money-laundering allegations to pressure them into transferring money. The proceeds were believed to have been received through the Touch ‘n Go eWallet before being converted into cryptocurrency. The syndicate was believed to have been run by a Malaysian operating from Cambodia, with the help of supervisors and managers in Pakistan.
The case is being investigated under Sections 13, 14 and 16 of Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, as amended in 2025, as well as Penal Code provisions on extortion, impersonation, fraud and abetment. Victim losses, the number of confirmed victims and any money seized have not yet been disclosed. All of the claims about the suspects are allegations at this stage, and no one has been convicted.
Why it matters
The case shows how scam call centres can operate across borders, with victims in one country, workers in another and organisers said to be in a third. It also matters for Pakistan, because the raid took place on its soil and its cybercrime agency led the operation.
What happens next
Malaysia’s police have referred the matter to the director of the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department, and a team of investigators may be sent to Pakistan to follow the investigation. Malaysian officials are still waiting for the complete profiles of the people detained, while Pakistani investigators establish the roles of the alleged organisers, supervisors and money handlers.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://mediaselangor.com/en/2026/10/404163 (Media Selangor, 31 October 2026)
- https://pakistanintheworld.pk/live/igp-confirms-130-malaysians-held-in-pakistan-over-cybercrime-syndicate-investigators-may-be-sent-to-rawalpindi/ (Pakistan in the World, 31 October 2026)
