The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has summoned several popular YouTubers and social media influencers for their alleged role in promoting large-scale financial scams tied to unlicensed online trading and gambling apps.

 

According to reports, the agency has directed Mudassar Hassan, Muhammad Anas Ali, Iqra Kanwal, and Muhammad Husnain Shah to appear in person at the NCCIA office in Lahore on September 2, 2025.

 

Investigators claim these influencers promoted illegal online trading and gambling apps, luring young people into unregulated betting platforms. Authorities say the influencers used social media to glamorize and legitimize the platforms, creating a coordinated scheme to defraud the public.

NCCIA warned that failure to appear will be treated as an admission of guilt or a forfeiture of the right to present a defense.

 

Whistleblower accounts and early findings reveal that the controversial platform “World 777” aggressively funded influencer campaigns, targeting thousands of Pakistanis particularly youth and drawing them into high-risk online gambling.

 

The list of influencers linked to the campaign includes high-profile names such as Mathira, Nadir Ali, Aimen Zaman, Varda Malik, Javeria Aurangzeb, Abeera Khan, Faryal Fairy, and Nauman Kazmi.

 

Officials estimate that billions of rupees leave Pakistan each month through these unregulated platforms, creating a shadow economy that threatens financial stability while fueling addiction and financial losses among vulnerable users.

 

In a related development, a Lahore court extended the physical remand of popular YouTuber Saadur Rehman, known as Ducky Bhai, for four more days in a similar case involving gambling app promotions. Authorities allege that he endorsed platforms like Binomo, 1xBet, Bet365, and B9 Game for financial gain. Investigators have collected 27 video links from his account featuring these promotions, many of which have since been deleted.

 

Ducky Bhai faces charges under multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, including electronic forgery and fraud, as well as sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. He was arrested on August 16 at Lahore airport, and with the latest court order, he will remain in custody until at least September 1 as the investigation continues.