FIA busts gang of swindlers impersonating army officers

[The Eagle]

FIA busts gang of swindlers impersonating army officers

By Our Correspondent
Published: July 3, 2018

Fraudsters used latest technology to hack into database of NADRA, cellphone companies. EXPRESS NEWS SCREENGRAB

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has busted a gang involved in swindling millions of rupees by impersonating military officials or by luring people with hefty lotteries over phone calls in Punjab.

The gang was capable of even creating fake thumbprints by stealing the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) database, Express News reported on Tuesday.

According to the FIA investigation, the gang used to devise a detailed strategy before executing their plans.

“They [fraudsters] have invented a technology that is capable of manipulating the biometric system, Nadra system and other sensitive operations of the country, including issuance of cellphone SIMs and changing the modules of SIMs,” Shahid Hassan, the deputy director of FIA’s Cybercrime Circle, told Express News.

ISPR cautions public on receiving calls from army impersonators

The gang used thumbprints from Nadra’s database and converted them on silicon sheets for making the encrypted SIMs usable, he explained.

According to Hassan, the suspects ran their operations through an office in a village on the outskirts of Sargodha.

EXPRESS NEWS SCREENGRAB

Illegal foreign exchange, machines for making fake thumb impressions, hundreds of cellphones, millions of mobile phone SIMs and people’s computerised national identity cards (CNICs) among other items were recovered from the ‘headquarters’ of the gang.

The FIA officer also made an appeal to the masses to avoid sharing their sensitive information with anyone over telephone in greed of winning lotteries.

People warned against sharing personal details with fake army officials

Last month, the media wing of Pakistan Army cautioned the general public to be aware of telephone calls from those impersonating military officials.

“The impersonators try to seek personal details like CNIC, bank accounts, etc on the pretext of census verification, etc,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). “Please be aware that no such calls are being made from Pakistan armed forces,” it added.

The military’s media wing further said “public is requested not to respond to such calls, and immediately report the same on emergency helpline UAN 1135 and 1125.”

The same appeal was made in January when the military warned citizens against sharing personal details with fraudsters impersonating army officials on the pretext of census verification.

 

[Imran Khan]

only nadra employs can sale data .

 

[The Eagle]

Few days back, NADRA officials were also arrested for stealing data.

 

[Umair Nawaz]

these guys have talent, i say reach a deal with them and make them work for intelligence services!
they can manipulate international ID/biometric data as well, lets say in India, Israel, America or even UK!

They can be a useful tool

 

[Maarkhoor]

these guys have talent, i say reach a deal with them and make them work for intelligence services!
they can manipulate international ID/biometric data as well, lets say in India, Israel, America or even UK!

They can be a useful tool

They just bought gadget and software from Chinese and used NADRA's stolen DATA probably sold...M.I pin point these criminals (Hardly educated) and Inform FIA to arrest.....FIA's work is just an arrest nothing more....All surveillance and investigation done by M.I.

@The Eagle

 

[Umair Nawaz]

They just bought gadget and software from Chinese and used NADRA's stolen DATA probably sold...M.I pin point these criminals (Hardly educated) and Inform FIA to arrest.....FIA's work is just an arrest nothing more....All surveillance and investigation done by M.I.

@The Eagle

not so fast! first take a good interview with them in a good/friendly environment, then decide with a cool mind if they r worthy enough or not.

 

[Maarkhoor]

not so fast! first take a good interview with them in a good/friendly environment, then decide with a cool mind if they r worthy enough or not.

Done...After finding them cheap thieves...handed over to FIA....

 

[Solomon2]

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has busted a gang involved in swindling millions of rupees by impersonating military officials...The gang was capable of even creating fake thumbprints...Illegal foreign exchange, machines for making fake thumb impressions, hundreds of cellphones, millions of mobile phone SIMs and people’s computerised national identity cards (CNICs) among other items were recovered -

But no, apparently the FIA doesn't believe that any of this is considered evidence that the gang might have been collecting information to spy for India. Not a breath about the possibility at all!

 

[Night_Fury]

these guys have talent, i say reach a deal with them and make them work for intelligence services!
they can manipulate international ID/biometric data as well, lets say in India, Israel, America or even UK!

They can be a useful tool

bro, i disagree, there isn't much talent in what they did. its just fraud, and a very low, cheep level fraud. they were able to fool and rob innocent people. innocent people who love and trust Pak army. that is the only reason people came into their web.... there are many examples on social media of calls made to slightly sharp and people who have more exposure in how govt bodies work.... those people gave them no info and they had to drop their calls.... i trust your intentions are good.. but for a higher level work, you need more intelligent people, and people who are honest and loyal to pakistan... how can you trust these crooks with anything sensitive... i hope you can understand my point of view.... thanks.

 

[Shamsher1990]

not so fast! first take a good interview with them in a good/friendly environment, then decide with a cool mind if they r worthy enough or not.

The only useful skill folks like these have is social engineering skill. It is a powerful skill but it is actually extremely common. You can get guys without criminal record who are master social manipulators. Most intelligene agencies have tons of such kind of folks. As far as 'tools and techniques' go; well, a decently funded agency will have tons of home grown or acquired tools.

 

[Crystal-Clear]

these guys have talent, i say reach a deal with them and make them work for intelligence services!
they can manipulate international ID/biometric data as well, lets say in India, Israel, America or even UK!

They can be a useful tool

we have better people thats why these fraudster got caught .

 

[jamal18]

these guys have talent, i say reach a deal with them and make them work for intelligence services!
they can manipulate international ID/biometric data as well, lets say in India, Israel, America or even UK!

They can be a useful tool

Won't be much use after they've been hung.

 

[blueazure]

the idiots at nadra have put the entire data base of pakistan to be hacked and stolen

in april this year, there was a major breach of nadra servers and millions of user data was compromised. there are whatsapp and facebook groups openly selling user data for 3 to 4 k ruppes. you just give Cell # and they give you ID, address, siblings data etc.

 

[The Eagle]

But no, apparently the FIA doesn't believe that any of this is considered evidence that the gang might have been collecting information to spy for India. Not a breath about the possibility at all!

Really sad to hear as such. Or at least should have been associated with Mosad honey trap working as only consultancy & business solution but in reality, things are shared as found. However, sometimes it is beyond understanding of slower minds to understand the sensitivity of found evidence & proofs that claims are not baseless. Though, such tactics reminds me as how Mosad fooled even CIA into Libya traps back then while planted own device & then manipulated audio supplied to CIA later. None taken any breath about the possibility of intel being fake, at all.

 

[litman]

everyone in pak has a price and such people are everywhere. such types of crimes are extremely difficult without the involvement of inside men of nadra , banks etc.