Unfortunately, the Country remains in the grip of various scams involving fake Mobile Phone Calls & SMS, and even Internet Banking fraud; however, nothing substantial has yet been seen taking place from the concerned authorities to prevent the malpractice.
The prevailing variety of mobile and internet scams have cost huge financial losses to numerous people, and in particular, naive people easily fall prey to fraudulent activities.
Even most of the people are oblivious as how to avert being scammed and approach the relevant forum for registering the complaint.
In recent times, the miscreants have found multiple ways of modus operandi to deceive the people whether they send messages to the people from various numbers or call the people in the guise of any bank or cellular company representative for penetrating into the confidential information about bank accounts, etc.
Even the perpetrators also try to hoodwink the people by sending them messages mentioning that they have won a significant amount of money or valuable items such as laptops and mobile phones etc, and ask them to call to specified numbers.
Also Read: Internet banking frauds while using name of Pakistan army continue
The following messages are, in general, being sent to the people for fraud purposes;
“ARY Jeeto Pakistan K Show me apke is (number ………) ki qurandazi hone per ap 2 lakh cheque, 3 tola gold, 1 laptop win kar chuky han, is Whatsapp (number ……………..) per contact me.”
“Benazir income support programme sy ap ko Rs 30,500 mubarak hon. For information, is (number ……..) per call Karen.”
“Mah e Ramzan offer main apny is (number…………) sy 8038 per sms kia tha, apko 1 bike, Rs 500,000 check mubarak ho, ap is Whatsapp (number …………) per rabta karin.”
(Insaaf Imdad Program main ap ne (number …………….) sy 8171 per SMS kiya tha. Ap ki Rs 12,000 imdad manzoor ho ai hai. Ap is (number ………….) per call Karen.”
Though the people have time to time been cautioned about fraudulent phone calls and SMS and advised to remain vigilant through the following warning messages;
“Dear Customer, Never call back on unknown numbers including those given in the SMS for enabling debit cards, credit cards, accounts, and digital channels. If needed, always call your bank’s helpline for availing or seeking clarity regarding your bank account or any banking service.”
“Dear Customer, Bank (name withheld) will never ask for your secure banking information (username or password) or ask you to log in to your account from an email link. Please be cautious in this regard.”
However, it won’t be enough to curb the illicit activities till the FIA Cyber Crime Wing and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) initiate concrete measures to address the issue.
