Rising online fraud and account hacking fuel tougher enforcement, greater public awareness and stronger cybe
LAHORE:
As Pakistan’s digital economy, online banking and social media use continue to grow, cybercrime has emerged as a major national challenge. In the first five months of this year, more than 77,000 complaints about cybercrime were received by the relevant authorities, underscoring the growing scale of the problem.
According to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, over 58,000 complaints were verified, more than 8,000 investigations were initiated, 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, most incidents go unreported. Shumaila, a victim of bank fraud, revealed that money was withdrawn from her husband’s bank accounts through a scam. After making repeated visits to banks, she was put off by the prospect of repeatedly visiting cybercrime offices and stopped pursuing the case.
Similarly, Khawaja Shoaib, another observer, highlighted another common scam. “People often receive calls from individuals posing as package delivery representatives asking them to verify a PIN. Once the code is shared, victims can lose access to their WhatsApp accounts, which are then taken over by fraudsters,” Shoaib said.
Victims claimed cybercrime causes not only financial loss but also severe emotional distress. A Lahore-based businessman, who spoke anonymously, said he received a call from someone posing as a bank representative. Within minutes, large amounts were withdrawn from his account. Although he filed a complaint immediately, it took months to recover the money 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 family. “The hacker sent messages in my name and deceived people,” she said, adding that the incident caused her considerable mental stress.
Cybercrime expert Kaukab Zuberi highlighted that the most common cybercrimes reported in Pakistan include online financial fraud, hacking of WhatsApp and Facebook accounts, fake investment schemes, online fraud, identity theft and extortion through social media, where women and youth are increasingly being targeted.
According to Zuberi, a major reason for the rise in cybercrime is the lack of public awareness. Many people are unaware of the tactics used by fraudsters and continue to click on suspicious links or share sensitive information, so institutions need to 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 that most successful cybercrimes are due to weak passwords, clicking on suspicious links, sharing personal information with unknown people, 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 that these cities are more targeted due to their greater internet usage, mobile banking activity and online shopping.
Zuberi stressed that law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem.
“Digital security education in schools and universities, stronger security systems by banks and telecommunications companies, faster legal action and greater public vigilance are needed. Citizens should avoid trusting unknown callers, suspicious links or investment offers and should report suspicious activity immediately,” Zuberi said.
Experts warn that cybercrime is no longer just a technical problem, but an economic, social and national security challenge. Despite successful operations against fraud networks and hacker groups, increasing complaints show that stronger action is needed from government, the private sector and the public.
