The rise in online fraud and account hacking drives calls for stricter enforcement, greater public awareness and stronger cybersecurity.
LAHORE:
As Pakistan’s digital economy, online banking and social media usage continue to expand, cybercrime has become a major national challenge. In the first five months of this year, competent authorities received more than 77,000 reports of cybercrime, highlighting the growing magnitude of the problem.
According to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, more than 58,000 complaints were verified, more than 8,000 investigations 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, most incidents go unreported. Bank fraud victim Shumaila revealed that money was withdrawn from her husband’s bank accounts through a scam. After making repeated visits to banks, the prospect of repeatedly visiting cybercrime offices discouraged her and she eventually stopped pursuing the case.
Similarly, Khawaja Shoaib, another observer, highlighted another common scam. “People often receive calls from people posing as package delivery representatives and asking them to confirm a PIN code. Once the code is shared, victims can lose access to their WhatsApp accounts, which are then passed on to scammers,” Shoaib said.
Victims stated that cybercrime causes not only financial losses but also severe emotional distress. A businessman from Lahore, who spoke anonymously, shared that he received a call from someone posing as a bank representative. Within minutes, large sums were withdrawn from his account. Although he filed the 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 misled people,” he said, adding that the incident caused him significant mental stress.
Cyber crime expert Kaukab Zuberi highlighted that the most common cyber crimes reported in Pakistan include online financial fraud, hacking of WhatsApp and Facebook accounts, fake investment schemes, online shopping scams, identity theft and blackmail through social media, with women and youth increasingly being targeted.
According to Zuberi, one of the main reasons for the increase in cybercrime is the lack of public awareness. Many people are unfamiliar with the tactics used by scammers and continue to click on suspicious links or share sensitive information, so institutions must educate citizens about online risks and safe digital practices.
Zuberi also pointed to capacity issues within cybercrime law 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 trained investigators and stronger public awareness campaigns through traditional and social media.
Cybersecurity experts believe that the most successful cybercrimes are the result of weak passwords, clicking on suspicious links, sharing personal information with unknown people, and not using two-factor authentication.
At the city level, Karachi records the highest number of cybercrime complaints, followed by Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Peshawar. Experts believe these cities are the most frequently targeted due to their increased use of the Internet, mobile banking and online commerce.
Zuberi emphasized that law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem.
“Education on digital security in schools and universities, stronger security systems by banks and telecommunications companies, faster judicial actions and greater public surveillance are necessary. Citizens should avoid trusting unknown people, suspicious links or investment offers and should immediately report suspicious activities,” Zuberi said.
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 hacker groups, growing complaints show that stronger action is needed from the government, private sector and public.
