With fraudsters coming up with new ways of online criminal activity, thousands of citizens have suffered financial loss
LAHORE:
Incidents of fraud through hacking of accounts on major social media platforms – WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram – have steadily increased across Pakistan, raising serious concerns about cyber security and public awareness.
The trend has continued even after the establishment of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in 2025, which replaced the cyber crime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The agency was created to specifically address the growing number of cybercrime cases, particularly those involving social media fraud and online financial fraud.
Several victims of social media hacking have also reported financial losses. Grade-20 Government Officer Muhammad Afzal Ahmed shared that hackers used his WhatsApp account to ask his friends and relatives for money and several people transferred money through mobile banking before the account was restored after 24 hours.
Similarly, Rizwan Anwar had a fake Facebook account created in his name which was used to solicit money from his contacts. Another victim, Shahid Ali, a mechanic, claimed that hackers collected Rs500,000 from people using his name after gaining access to his WhatsApp account. “I filed a complaint but I am still waiting for action,” Ali said.
Amir Naseem, professor of information technology at Government College, noted that the NCCIA did not yet have enough advanced equipment and updated systems, making it difficult to trace hackers.
“Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media applications do not have formal agreements with the FIA, which creates additional difficulties in the investigation,” Naseem explained.
According to official records available to The Express Pakinomist, in 2024, more than 380,000 complaints related to WhatsApp, Facebook, financial fraud and online scams were received. Of these complaints and investigations, 63 percent originated from Punjab, while the remaining 37 percent came from other provinces.
After the formation of the NCCIA, the use of digital platforms continued to grow and cybercrime also showed a sharp increase. In 2025 alone, the agency received 254,930 complaints related specifically to the hacking of WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram accounts or the creation of fake profiles used to demand money.
In addition, the agency received more than 500,000 phone calls from citizens seeking information or reporting suspected fraud through phone calls or emails. During the same period, authorities registered over 85,000 complaints related to financial fraud and more than 25,000 complaints directly linked to hacking incidents.
As of February 2026, data shows that between 500 and 700 complaints related to social media hacking and fraud are received each month.
According to officials, Punjab alone now receives more than 2,000 calls and emails daily reporting hacking incidents or seeking help regarding cyber fraud.
Cybercrime and IT expert Shahid Hussain warned that criminals often pose as friends or relatives to trick victims into sending money through duplicate accounts on WhatsApp, Facebook and increasingly Instagram.
“Hackers also share fake prize or financial benefit links that can steal personal data when clicked. Some scammers make phone calls pretending to be from banks or government programs, including Benazir’s income support program, to get sensitive financial information,” Hussain noted.
“AI tools are now being used to copy photos and details to create fake profiles and send urgent money requests to contacts,” added Hussain, who advised users to avoid suspicious links, report fake accounts and enable two-factor authentication for better security.
Former FIA Director General Khadim Hussain Bhatti claimed that though the government has established the NCCIA, public awareness about cyber fraud remains limited. “Large-scale awareness campaigns and digital security education are needed to prevent people from falling victim to online scams,” Bhatti said.
Officials from the Cybercrime Investigation Bureau acknowledged that cybercrime incidents are on the rise, but maintained that there are efforts to improve investigations, raise awareness and strengthen collaboration with educational institutions to educate the public about online safety.
Under the revised cybercrime procedures, citizens can now file cybercrime complaints at their nearest police station instead of traveling to major cities, after which the cases are forwarded to the relevant cybercrime authorities.
