Social Media Influencers Ignore NCCIA Notices Amid Gambling App Crackdown

Famous Social Media Influencers Ignore Cyber Crime Agency’s Notices in Gambling Apps Promotion Case

A significant development is unfolding in the digital world as the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) intensifies its crackdown on the promotion of illicit online gambling applications. Several prominent social media personalities, including Rajab Butt, Anas Ali, Iqra Kanwal, Hasnain Shah, and Irum Mehmood, have been served notices by the agency for their alleged involvement in promoting these unauthorized platforms.

These influencers have been directed to present themselves at the NCCIA office in Gulberg 2 on September 15 at 11 a.m. The agency emphasizes that this summons is crucial for recording their statements as part of ensuring a fair and thorough investigation.

However, the NCCIA’s notices reveal a concerning pattern: this isn’t the first attempt to engage with these individuals. The agency explicitly stated that previous calls for inquiry proceedings were “deliberately” ignored. The latest notice carries a stern warning: a failure to appear this time will be interpreted as an admission of having no defense or statement to offer in the ongoing case.

The accusations against these content creators are serious. They are alleged to have actively promoted online trading and gambling applications, effectively luring young people into making risky investments. Authorities suspect that these influencers leveraged their extensive social media reach to market applications that are both unregistered and unlicensed. These activities are believed to be part of a calculated scheme that has resulted in substantial financial losses for the public.

This case follows a recent high-profile arrest related to similar charges. On August 17, YouTuber Saad ur Rehman, widely known as “Ducky Bhai,” was apprehended by the NCCIA at Allama Iqbal International Airport for his alleged promotion of online gambling applications. This precedent underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the exploitation of social media for illegal financial activities.