Rising online fraud and account hacking fuel calls for tougher enforcement, greater public awareness and stronger cybe
LAHORE:
As Pakistan’s digital economy, online banking, and social media usage continue to expand, cybercrime has emerged as a major national challenge. In the first five months of this year, more than 77,000 cybercrime complaints were received by the relevant authorities, highlighting the growing scale of the problem.
According to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, over 58,000 complaints were verified, more than 8,000 inquiries were launched, 457 cases were formally registered, and 520 suspects were arrested. However, the number of convictions remains low, leading many victims to question the effectiveness of the justice system.
Unfortunately, the majority of incidents go unreported. Shumaila, a victim of banking fraud, revealed that money was withdrawn from her husband’s bank accounts through a scam. After making repeated visits to banks, she was discouraged by the prospect of repeatedly visiting cybercrime offices and eventually stopped pursuing the case.
Similarly, Khawaja Shoaib, another observer, highlighted another common scam. “People often receive calls from individuals posing as parcel delivery representatives who ask them to confirm a PIN code. Once the code is shared, victims can lose access to their WhatsApp accounts, which are then taken over by fraudsters,” said Shoaib.
Victims claimed cybercrime causes not only financial losses but also severe emotional distress. A Lahore-based businessman, speaking anonymously, shared that he received a call from someone pretending to be a bank representative. Within minutes, large sums were withdrawn from his account. Although he filed a complaint immediately, recovering the money took months and he was still unable to recover the full amount.
Another woman from Lahore explained that her social media account was hacked and used to send messages requesting money from her friends and relatives. “The hacker sent messages in my name and deceived people,” she said, adding that the incident caused her significant mental stress.
Cybercrime expert Kaukab Zuberi highlighted that the most common cybercrimes reported in Pakistan include online financial fraud, WhatsApp and Facebook account hacking, fake investment schemes, online shopping scams, identity theft, and blackmail through social media, with women and young people increasingly being targeted.
According to Zuberi, a major reason for the rise in cybercrime is the lack of public awareness. Many people are unfamiliar with the tactics used by fraudsters and continue to click on suspicious links or share sensitive information therefore institutions must educate citizens about online risks and safe digital practices.
Zuberi also pointed to capacity issues within cybercrime enforcement agencies. “A large number of cases remain pending while there is a shortage of trained cybercrime specialists,” said Zuberi, who called for the recruitment of skilled investigators and stronger public awareness campaigns through both mainstream and social media.
Cybersecurity experts believe most successful cybercrimes result from weak passwords, clicking suspicious links, sharing personal information with unknown individuals, and failing to use two-factor authentication.
City-wise, Karachi records the highest number of cybercrime complaints, followed by Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Peshawar. Experts believe these cities are more heavily targeted because of their greater internet usage, mobile banking activity, and online commerce.
Zuberi emphasized that law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem.
“Digital security education in schools and universities, stronger security systems by banks and telecom companies, faster judicial action, and greater public vigilance are necessary. Citizens should avoid trusting unknown callers, suspicious links, or investment offers and should report suspicious activity immediately,” said Zuberi.
Experts warn that cybercrime is no longer just a technical issue but an economic, social and national security challenge. Despite successful operations against fraud networks and hacking groups, rising complaints show stronger action is needed from the government, private sector and the public.
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