PTA warns of rising online fraud across Pakistan

Pakistan is facing a wave of online fraud, with thousands of fake videos circulating and citizens receiving fraudulent calls and one-time password (OTP) messages. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General Hafeez Ur Rehman gave the warning on Thursday.

He was addressing the closing ceremony of Cybersecurity Awareness Week. He said cyberattacks were taking place around the clock and warned that the telecom sector itself was vulnerable to digital threats.

Citizens frequently receive suspicious calls and messages, he said. He urged people not to forward unverified information, which can spread misinformation and expose others to fraud.

How the fraud reaches victims

The pattern is familiar to anyone with a mobile phone. A call or message claims to come from a bank, a courier company or a government department. It asks for an OTP, a PIN or a code sent to the phone. Once that code is shared, the fraudster can move money, take over an account or lock the victim out.

Fake videos work differently but cause similar harm. A doctored clip of a public figure or a fake news bulletin spreads on social media and messaging apps. Some carry false investment offers. Others are designed to create panic or damage a reputation before the truth catches up.

The PTA chairman’s warning covers both forms. One steals money. The other steals trust. Both rely on speed, because a victim who pauses to check is a victim the fraudster loses.

Who is handling the cases

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is working on such cases, the chairman said. He also pointed to efforts by institutions including the PTA, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to secure their systems against cyberattacks.

That spread of agencies reflects how wide the problem has become. Telecom networks carry the calls and messages. Identity databases hold the records fraudsters try to exploit. Broadcast and online regulators deal with the fake content itself. No single body can cover all three.

What citizens should do

The simplest protection is also the most repeated: never share an OTP or PIN with anyone, including a caller who claims to be from your bank. Banks do not ask for these codes over the phone.

A second rule is to stop and verify. If a message claims an account will be blocked or a parcel is stuck, check through the official app or helpline, not through a number given in the suspicious message itself.

A third rule is to not forward what you cannot verify. A fake video forwarded in good faith still does damage, and it puts the next recipient at risk of acting on false information.

Victims of cyber fraud can report cases to the FIA’s cybercrime reporting channels and to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which has taken over much of the operational cybercrime work. Early reporting matters, because stolen funds move fast and accounts can sometimes be frozen if the alert comes in time.

Why awareness is the first defence

The chairman stressed that improving public awareness and strengthening policies were essential to protecting Pakistan’s digital infrastructure. Technology helps, through filters, blocks and detection systems. But most frauds still need one human mistake to succeed.

As digital services expand, the risks grow with them. More people bank on phones, shop online and receive government services digitally. That growth is good for the economy, but it also widens the pool of potential victims.

Cybersecurity Awareness Week ends with a straightforward message. The attacks run around the clock. The defence starts with citizens who pause, verify and refuse to share codes or forward claims they have not checked.

Related coverage:

• https://featurepakistan.com/nccia-rawalpindi-cybercrime-network-october-2026/
• https://featurepakistan.com/pakistan-social-media-content-removal-compliance-october-2026/
• https://featurepakistan.com/hrcp-child-protection-online-safety-report-october-2026/

What is an OTP scam?

A fraudster tricks a victim into sharing a one-time password sent to their phone, then uses it to move money or take over an account.

Should I forward a video I am unsure about?

No. The PTA chairman urged citizens not to forward unverified information, as it can spread misinformation and expose others to fraud.

Where can cyber fraud be reported in Pakistan?

Cases can be reported to the FIA’s cybercrime channels and to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).