LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Lahore Zone, has arrested a Pakistani man indicted by US authorities over an alleged online fraud scheme involving the sale of more than 5.1 million counterfeit US postage labels.
The suspect, identified as Faheem Akram, allegedly operated the scheme from August 2023 until September 2026, selling counterfeit shipping labels online for approximately $2 each, according to the NCCIA.
The agency said transactions linked to the case amounted to approximately Rs35 billion. It clarified that the estimated loss of more than $126 million referred to the alleged damage caused to the US Postal Service.
A case has been registered in Pakistan, and the investigation is under way.
US Authorities Indict Pakistani National
The US Department of Justice announced on September 28 that a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida had indicted Akram, 33, a resident of Khanewal, on charges including conspiracy to defraud the US government, counterfeit postage and wire fraud.
The charges relate to the alleged operation of an online platform, LabelsBank.com, which prosecutors said was not authorised to sell US Postal Service products or services.
According to US prosecutors, the website offered counterfeit postage labels at a fixed price, regardless of a parcel’s weight, size or destination.
This allegedly allowed customers to send packages at prices substantially lower than legitimate postal rates.
The allegations have yet to be established through a final court judgment.
More Than 5.1 Million Counterfeit Labels Allegedly Sold
US court records indicate that more than 5,200 customers used the website to purchase over 5.1 million counterfeit shipping labels.
Investigators allege that the operation enabled customers to obtain shipping services without paying the applicable legitimate postage charges, resulting in substantial losses to the US Postal Service.
A court order authorised the seizure and shutdown of the website as part of the proceedings.
The NCCIA’s announcement did not provide further details about the suspect’s arrest or whether additional arrests had been made in Pakistan.
Iqrarul Hassan Sent to NCCIA on Four-Day Physical Remand in Karachi
Sixteen Bank Accounts Identified
Investigators identified 16 bank accounts allegedly linked to the case, according to the NCCIA.
Of these accounts, seven reportedly belong to Akram, five to his brother, two to his wife, and one each to his sister and maternal aunt.
The identification of these accounts forms part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged financial transactions associated with the scheme. The identification of an account does not, by itself, establish that its holder was involved in criminal activity.
Investigation Continues in Pakistan and the US
The case involves allegations of large-scale online fraud targeting the US postal system through counterfeit shipping labels sold to customers over the internet.
US authorities have pursued criminal charges against Akram, while Pakistan’s cybercrime agency has initiated its own proceedings following his arrest.
Further details about the investigation, potential accomplices and the status of the allegedly linked financial accounts have yet to be disclosed.
Akram remains accused in the US case, and the charges are allegations unless and until established in court.
