LAHORE (MNN); The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) announced on Tuesday the arrest of the prime suspect in an alleged international fraud involving the online sale of counterfeit US postage labels, which reportedly caused more than $126 million in losses to the US Postal Service.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida had previously identified the suspect as a 33-year-old man from Khanewal. According to a statement issued last month, he was accused of operating an unauthorised website that allegedly sold more than five million counterfeit US postage labels.
At a press conference, NCCIA Lahore Zone Additional Director Atif Ameer said the suspect had allegedly operated LabelsBank.com from August 2023 to September 2026, marketing and selling counterfeit postage labels online over a period of three years.
“More than five million stamps were sold through the website at around $2 per stamp,” Ameer said, adding that the estimated value of the transactions was approximately Rs35 billion.
He said the agency was also investigating the financial channels allegedly used to receive and transfer proceeds from the operation.
16 Bank Accounts Under Investigation
Flanked by Lahore NCCIA Deputy Director Waqas Saeed, Ameer said investigators had identified 16 bank accounts allegedly used in connection with the scheme. Seven accounts were operated by the suspect, five by his brother, two by his wife, and one each by his sister and aunt.
The investigation was expanded to several parts of the country, with eight special teams formed across Punjab, Islamabad and Sindh to trace the suspect and examine the alleged network. The teams conducted raids at 35 locations and questioned 47 people, he said.
Investigators also used digital and forensic methods to establish the suspect’s movements and identify individuals allegedly associated with the operation.
Ameer said the agency analysed 122 call-data records, 50 IMEI-tracking reports and audio and video footage obtained from 120 cameras.
Artificial intelligence and other modern technological tools were also employed during the investigation, he said. A locator operation continued for 10 days as investigators attempted to establish the suspect’s whereabouts and trace his activities.
Financial Network and Other Suspects
According to the NCCIA, a key focus of the investigation is tracing the money generated through the alleged online sale of counterfeit postage labels.
The agency is examining transactions involving the 16 bank accounts to determine how funds moved between accounts allegedly belonging to the suspect and his relatives.
Ameer said investigators were also looking into the possible involvement of family members, particularly the alleged use of their bank accounts in connection with the online business.
The role of other individuals who may have helped operate the website, process orders, receive payments or distribute counterfeit postage labels is also being investigated.
He added that the agency was working to establish the full scale of the alleged operation and verify the volume and value of the transactions.
