A suspect arrested in connection with the Rs9.3 million (Rs.93 lacs) fraud involving International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) gold medallist Laiba Ijaz has reportedly confessed to defrauding her, investigation sources have said.
According to investigators, Noman first came into contact with Laiba in February through his friend Aiza Fatima. The two women had reportedly launched a TikTok shop together, but the venture did not succeed.
Reports quotes sources as saying that Laiba later sought Aiza’s help in securing a United States (US) visa.
Investigators alleged that Noman took advantage of the situation by contacting Laiba through a second phone number while posing as Aiza.
The suspect also allegedly created a fake Gmail account using the name of Aiza’s brother, Azhar, who lives in the US. He reportedly used the two accounts to communicate with Laiba and convince her of the overseas education opportunity.
Investigators suspect that Noman used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create fake documents for Laiba’s student visa. Police have recovered part of his chat history, while his mobile phone has been sent for forensic analysis to gather further evidence.
Laiba was reportedly defrauded of Rs9.3 million after being promised a US visa, a scholarship and admission to a university in the United States. Police arrested Noman in Islamabad’s H-13 sector over the alleged fraud involving forged US university admission documents.
Investigators have also reportedly found material on the suspect’s phone linked to online fraud and proof of blackmailing women.
Laiba commited suicide after discovering the alleged scam, which reportedly caused severe distress to her and her family. Her family had sold land and pawned jewellery to arrange the money for her promised education abroad.
