As scammers invent new methods of online criminal activity, thousands of citizens have suffered financial losses.
LAHORE:
Fraud incidents related to hacking of accounts on major social media platforms (WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram) are steadily increasing across Pakistan, raising serious concerns over cybersecurity and public awareness.
This trend continued even after the creation of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in 2025, which replaced the cybercrime arm of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The agency was created to specifically respond to the growing number of cybercrime cases, particularly those involving social media fraud and online financial scams.
Several victims of social media hacking have also reported financial losses. Grade 20 government officer Muhammad Afzal Ahmed said hackers used his WhatsApp account to request money from his friends and relatives, and several people transferred funds through mobile banking before the account was restored after 24 hours.
Similarly, Rizwan Anwar created a fake Facebook account in his name, which was used to ask his contacts for money. Another victim, Shahid Ali, a mechanic, claimed that hackers collected Rs 500,000 from people using his name after accessing his WhatsApp account. “I filed a complaint but I’m still waiting for action,” Ali said.
Amir Naseem, a professor of information technology at Government College, noted that the NCCIA did not yet have sufficiently 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 investigations,” Naseem explained.
According to official documents available to The Express PK Press Club, 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 came from Punjab, while the remaining 37 percent came from other provinces.
After the establishment of the NCCIA, the use of digital platforms continued to expand and cybercrime also saw a sharp increase. In 2025 alone, the agency received 254,930 complaints related specifically to hacking of WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram accounts or the creation of fake profiles used to demand money.
Additionally, more than 500,000 phone calls were received by the agency from citizens seeking information or reporting suspected fraud by phone or email. During the same period, authorities recorded more than 85,000 complaints related to financial fraud and more than 25,000 complaints directly related to hacking incidents.
As of February 2026, data shows that between 500 and 700 complaints related to social media hacking and fraud were received each month.
According to authorities, in Punjab alone, more than 2,000 calls and emails are now received daily to report hacking incidents or seek help in cases of 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 links to financial rewards or benefits that can steal personal data when clicked. Some scammers make phone calls pretending to be from banks or government programs, including the Benazir Income Support Program, to obtain sensitive financial information,” Hussain noted.
“AI tools are now being used to copy photos and information 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 said even though the government established the NCCIA, public awareness about cyber fraud remains limited. “Large-scale awareness campaigns and digital safety education are needed to prevent people from falling victim to online scams,” Bhatti said.
Officials at the cybercrime investigative agency acknowledged that cybercrime incidents were on the rise, but maintained that efforts were underway to improve investigations, raise awareness and strengthen cooperation with educational institutions to educate the public about online safety.
Under the revised cybercrime procedures, citizens can now file complaints related to cybercrimes at the nearest police station instead of traveling to major cities, after which the cases are forwarded to the relevant cybercrime authorities.
