As social media platforms continue to blur the boundaries between connection and deception, Pakistan’s cybercrime landscape is witnessing a new form of technology-driven exploitation. The recent case involving a 70-year-old Rawalpindi resident, Mahmood Baig, has highlighted how digital tools—ranging from AI voice filters to encrypted messaging apps—are being manipulated to engineer trust and orchestrate elaborate honey traps. These schemes combine psychological manipulation with digital precision, reflecting a troubling evolution in how technology is being misused for personal and financial gain.
According to law enforcement reports, Baig was contacted through a social media platform and persuaded to meet in Multan, where he later went missing. Shortly after, his family received a WhatsApp video of him restrained and asking for assistance, accompanied by demands for money and personal belongings. Before any negotiations could occur, Rs300,000 was already withdrawn from his bank account. The case has drawn attention not only for its emotional gravity but also for how it showcases the intersection of digital fraud and real-world coercion—a growing trend in cyber-enabled social manipulation across Pakistan.
Investigators say that honey traps in regions such as Katcha have evolved rapidly, driven by the widespread use of smartphones and easy access to social media applications like Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok. Offenders create convincing digital identities, often posing as individuals seeking friendship or marriage. Earlier cases revealed the use of AI-powered voice filters to impersonate women online, but more recent patterns show a shift toward using genuine social media influencers to build credibility. One such example is that of TikToker Uroosa Solangi from Kashmore, who reportedly collaborated with a local group to deceive unsuspecting individuals from Punjab and Sindh. Police surveillance traced multiple SIM changes and coordinated communications between her and other members, using call data, WhatsApp logs, and geolocation records to establish links.
Experts note that this blend of online interaction and offline exploitation represents a new phase of cybercrime in Pakistan. The same social algorithms designed to boost engagement are now being exploited to target individuals with tailored approaches, while encrypted messaging and anonymous profiles provide cover for illicit coordination. Law enforcement agencies, including FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing, are increasingly relying on digital forensics, data triangulation, and AI-driven analysis to investigate such incidents. However, the pace at which technology is being repurposed for manipulation continues to challenge existing capabilities.
The case has reignited discussions around digital literacy, online privacy, and the importance of understanding social engineering tactics. Analysts emphasize that stronger inter-agency coordination, along with improved awareness campaigns, could help mitigate these risks. The growing misuse of everyday digital tools underscores a deeper societal issue: while Pakistan’s population rapidly digitizes, many users remain unaware of how their digital footprints can be exploited. The story of Mahmood Baig is more than an isolated event—it reflects how technology, in the wrong hands, can transform connection into control and trust into vulnerability.
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