US authorities say Khanewal resident Faheem Akram caused an alleged $126 million loss to the US Postal Service through a fake postage website.
ISLAMABAD: US authorities have announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Faheem Akram, a resident of Khanewal who has been indicted in the US state of Florida over an alleged postal fraud scheme.
Authorities have urged the public not to attempt to apprehend Akram themselves and instead provide any information about his whereabouts to law enforcement or security officials.
According to US authorities, 33-year-old Akram, described as an IT expert and software engineer, operated a website called “LabelsBank.com,” which was used to sell postage stamps and shipping labels to customers in the United States.
US investigators allege that the scheme caused an estimated $126 million loss to the US Postal Service. Based on the exchange rate cited in the report, the amount is roughly equivalent to Rs35 billion.
The website allegedly operated by Akram has since been shut down and seized by US authorities.
Investigators said more than 5,200 people purchased over 5 million fraudulent postage stamps through the website. According to the allegations, the stamps were sold at discounted prices without properly determining factors such as the destination and weight of the mail being shipped.
The current whereabouts of Akram have not been disclosed. US authorities have offered the reward for information leading to his arrest, while warning individuals against attempting to detain him themselves.
District Police Officer Khanewal Abid Waraich said Akram had allegedly been involved in similar types of online fraud in Pakistan in the past. However, the DPO said there was no criminal case registered against him in Pakistan in connection with those activities.
Waraich said Akram is a resident of Khanewal city and works as a software engineer. Pakistani police officials suspect that he may currently be outside the country.
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