The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched a public awareness campaign titled “Protect Yourself from Scams.” This initiative educates the public about various deceptive tactics employed by fraudsters and emphasizes the importance of staying vigilant.
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Signs You Might Be Targeted
- Receiving an unexpected call or message requesting personal or financial information.
- Being informed of an unexpected lottery win, especially from welfare schemes like the “Benazir Income Support Programme.”
Common Scams to Be Aware of:
- Lottery/ Prize/Welfare Scam: Beware of messages or calls from unknown sources claiming you’ve won prizes or money.
- Bank Verification Scams: Fraudsters might pose as representatives of law enforcement agencies. Such as the FIA, or even financial institutions. They may ask you to verify your bank details. Potentially leading to unauthorized access or theft.
- Kidnap Threats, Fake Relatives, and Job Scams: Scammers may impersonate relatives or job agencies, requesting money under false pretenses. In more extreme cases, they might even threaten kidnapping, especially if they believe the recipient is vulnerable.
Safety Comes First
PTA stresses the significance of keeping financial and personal details confidential. If confronted with potential scams:
- Report suspicious numbers to PTA for immediate action.
- You can file a complaint through official portal:
https://complaint.pta.gov.pk/RegisterComplaint.aspx. Or use the PTA CMS mobile application. - For further inquiries contact their toll-free helpline at
0800 55055. - Additionally, any financial fraud can be reported to the SBP for proper investigation.
Final Thoughts
With the rise of advanced correspondence, the tricks have become progressively more complex. PTA’s efforts in furthering this mission highlight the force’s responsibility to protect the general public from foreseeable threats. Everyone is requested to be vigilant and regularly verify the authenticity of any unsolicited correspondence.
