The rise in online fraud and account takeovers fuels the need for tougher enforcement, greater public awareness and a stronger cyber.
LAHORE:
As the digital economy, online banking and use of social media continue to grow in Pakistan, cybercrime has become a major national challenge. In the first five months of this year, more than 77,000 cybercrime complaints were received by relevant authorities, highlighting the growing scale of the problem.
According to the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency, more than 58,000 complaints were verified, more than 8,000 investigations were launched, 457 cases were officially registered and 520 suspects were arrested. However, the number of convictions remains low, leading many victims to question the effectiveness of the judicial system.
Unfortunately, the majority of 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 Shumaila, a victim of bank fraud, revealed that money was withdrawn from her husband’s bank accounts through a scam.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 became discouraged by the prospect of repeatedly visiting cybercrime bureaus and eventually stopped pursuing the case.
Similarly, Khawaja Shoaib, another observer, pointed out another common scam. “People often receive calls from individuals posing as parcel deliverers asking them to confirm a PIN. Once the code is shared, victims can lose access to their WhatsApp accounts, which are then taken over by fraudsters,” Shoaib explained.
Victims say cybercrime causes not only financial losses but also serious emotional distress. A Lahore-based businessman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he received a call from someone posing as a bank representative. Within minutes, large sums were withdrawn from his account. Although he immediately filed a complaint, it took months to get the money back and he has still not been able to recover the full amount.
Another woman from Lahore said her social media account was hacked and used to send messages asking for money to her friends and relatives. “The hacker sent messages in my name and deceived people,” she said, adding that the incident caused her significant 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 shopping scams, identity theft and blackmail via 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 unaware of the tactics scammers use and continue to click on suspicious links or share sensitive information. Institutions must therefore raise awareness among citizens about online risks and safe digital practices.
Zuberi also highlighted capacity issues within agencies tasked with combating cybercrime. “A large number of cases remain pending while there is a shortage of qualified cybercrime specialists,” said Zuberi, who called for the recruitment of qualified investigators and more intense public awareness campaigns through mainstream and social media.
Cybersecurity experts believe that the most effective cybercrimes result from weak passwords, clicking on suspicious links, sharing personal information with strangers, and failure to use two-factor authentication.
In terms of city, Karachi records the highest number of cybercrime complaints, followed by Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Peshawar. Experts believe these cities are more targeted due to their greater internet usage, mobile banking and e-commerce.
Zuberi stressed that law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem.
“Digital security education in schools and universities, stronger security systems from banks and telecommunications companies, faster legal actions and greater public vigilance are needed. Citizens should avoid trusting unknown callers, suspicious links or investment offers and should report any 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 the success of operations against fraudulent networks and hacking groups, the increase in complaints shows that stronger action is needed from the government, the private sector and the public.
