RAWALPINDI – Police have arrested a couple accused of running a notorious “honey-trap” scam that targeted government employees through deception, coercion, and digital blackmail.
The suspects, identified as Raheel Nasir alias Zain Shah and his wife Urooj, allegedly lured victims—mostly public sector workers—on the pretext of helping them secure jobs. Once trust was established, the victims were invited to the couple’s residence in the Range Road area. There, they were reportedly trapped, forced to remove their clothes, filmed in compromising positions, and later blackmailed.
The investigation was launched after a government employee, Usman Abbasi, filed a complaint with the Race Course Police Station. He stated that he was threatened at gunpoint, forcibly filmed in a private setting, and made to pay Rs200,000. When the couple demanded more—eventually extorting Rs510,000—and Abbasi refused further payment, they allegedly sent explicit videos to his friends and colleagues.
The couple now faces multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), including offenses related to unauthorized video recording and cyber extortion.
This case is part of a growing trend of digital blackmail schemes in Punjab. In earlier incidents this year, police busted similar gangs operating in Rawalpindi and Lahore, including networks that involved law enforcement personnel. Authorities arrested 16 suspects in April, including five police officers, for running similar traps involving weapons, cash, and high-profile targets.
Law enforcement officials are now working to determine whether Raheel and Urooj were operating independently or as part of a larger organized ring. Investigators are also reaching out to potential additional victims who may have been blackmailed but chose not to report the crimes out of fear or embarrassment.
Police have urged the public to remain cautious of fraudulent job offers and unsolicited invitations, especially involving unfamiliar individuals online. The case underscores the growing misuse of technology in personal exploitation and the urgent need for stronger cybercrime vigilance.
