PTA cautions public over growing online scams

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has alerted the masses about rising online fraud across the country.

The PTA in an advisory cautioned citizens about people doing online fraud by luring them with a prize money win.

“Online fraudsters may ask you to click on a suspicious link to win a prize, or they can commit fraud by asking for your banking details online.”

The PTA, urging people to remain cautious and safe, has directed them to file their complaints regarding suspicious calls or messages at the authority website by clicking this link http:.//complaint.pta.gov.pk/RegisterComplaint.aspx or at the PTA mobile app.

Furthermore, people have been directed to contact the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency’s helpline 1799 in case of any fraud.

Read more: National Data at Risk: PTA Chief Warns of Massive Cyber Breach, Urges Urgent Reforms

Earlier, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) cautioned the cellular mobile customers to be aware of hoax calls and falsified/unsolicited SMSes alluring the subscribers to buy scratch cards and then notify scratch numbers to the calling party or sender of the SMS for cash prizes.

A PTA spokesman said that the mobile customers are advised to be mindful of receiving hoax/unsolicited calls and SMSes informing the customer that he has won a cash prize, but to retrieve the prize, he has to inform the calling party of the hidden numbers on the prepaid scratch cards. As a result, the customer may be deprived of the value of the scratch card.

In case of receiving such calls/SMSes, mobile phone consumers should immediately contact their mobile phone operators to verify the information, the spokesman added.