Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested a man in Lahore who faces criminal charges in the United States over an alleged online scheme involving more than 5.1 million counterfeit US postage labels and losses exceeding $126 million to the US Postal Service.
The NCCIA Lahore Zone arrested Faheem Akram, a Pakistani national from Khanewal, on Tuesday. The agency said it had registered a case and launched an investigation into the alleged fraud.
According to the NCCIA, Akram allegedly operated the scheme from August 2023 until September 2026. He reportedly sold counterfeit shipping labels for around $2 each through an online platform.
The agency cited transactions worth approximately Rs35 billion in connection with the case. However, it clarified that the $126 million figure referred to the alleged losses suffered by the US Postal Service, rather than the value of transactions in Pakistan.
The arrest follows an indictment announced by the US Department of Justice on September 28. A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida charged Akram, 33, with conspiracy to defraud the US government, counterfeit postage and wire fraud.
The charges remain allegations, and the case will proceed through the relevant legal processes.
How the Alleged US Postal Fraud Scheme Worked
According to US prosecutors, a website called LabelsBank.com allegedly sold counterfeit US postage labels without authorisation from the US Postal Service.
The platform reportedly offered shipping labels at a fixed price, regardless of a parcel’s weight, size or destination. This pricing model allegedly allowed customers to ship packages at rates substantially lower than legitimate postal charges.
Prosecutors alleged that the website enabled customers to purchase postage labels that appeared to provide valid shipping services but did not carry authorised postage.
The investigation found that more than 5,200 people had used the website to purchase over 5.1 million counterfeit shipping labels, according to US court records.
Authorities alleged that the scheme caused significant financial losses to the US Postal Service by allowing parcels to enter the postal system without payment of the required legitimate postage.
A US court order authorised authorities to seize and shut down the website as part of the investigation.
US Authorities Indict Pakistani National
The US Department of Justice announced the indictment on September 28, accusing Akram of involvement in the alleged counterfeit postage operation.
The charges include conspiracy to defraud the US government, counterfeit postage and wire fraud. These allegations concern the suspected use of an online platform to distribute counterfeit shipping labels and facilitate transactions connected to the scheme.
An indictment formally sets out criminal allegations against a defendant. It does not establish guilt, which prosecutors must prove through the judicial process.
The case involves alleged activity across digital platforms and financial channels. Investigators examined the website, its customers and financial accounts they believed were connected to the operation.
The website’s reported customer base and the volume of labels allegedly sold have made the case significant for postal security and online financial crime investigations.
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Investigators Identify 16 Bank Accounts
Investigators identified 16 bank accounts allegedly linked to the case, according to the information provided by authorities.
Of these accounts, seven reportedly belonged 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 financial investigation into the alleged operation. Authorities have not established through the information provided whether every account holder knew about or participated in the alleged scheme.
Investigators may examine financial records and transactions to determine how the money moved, who controlled the accounts and whether the funds were connected to the alleged counterfeit postage sales.
The reported account links do not, by themselves, establish criminal wrongdoing by the relatives named in the investigation.
NCCIA Investigation Under Way
The NCCIA has registered a case following Akram’s arrest, and its investigation is continuing.
The agency’s inquiry is expected to examine the allegations, the financial transactions and the digital activity associated with the case. Further details about possible additional arrests, recovered funds or formal charges in Pakistan were not provided in the available information.
The case also highlights the international dimension of cybercrime investigations. Online platforms can reach customers across borders, while financial transactions and digital evidence may involve several jurisdictions.
Cooperation between investigative authorities can help trace suspected online fraud, identify financial links and establish the facts required for legal proceedings.
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