Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has issued a stern warning to citizens against sharing their verification codes, as fraudsters are increasingly impersonating officials from reputable institutions to carry out online scams, Express Newsreported.
According to FIA, scammers are posing as representatives of prominent organizations such as the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), and the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). Using platforms like WhatsApp, these fraudsters contact individuals, often under the guise of conducting degree verifications, to trick them into revealing sensitive information.
Once the verification codes are shared, the scammers hack the victim’s WhatsApp account and use it to launch further scams, primarily targeting the victim’s close contacts.
Alarming Rise in Hacked Accounts
FIA revealed that such incidents are on the rise, with over 1,400 WhatsApp accounts hacked nationwide in July alone. The Cyber Crime Wing of the agency received 1,426 complaints of hacked accounts since July 1, with 549 accounts restored so far. Details of these cases have been submitted to the Senate for further action.
Advisory for Citizens
FIA has urged the public to exercise extreme caution and avoid sharing verification codes or personal information with anyone claiming to be an official representative. The agency also recommends reporting suspicious activity immediately to the Cyber Crime Wing.
This warning is part of FIA’s broader effort to combat digital fraud and protect citizens from becoming victims of online scams, which have grown in sophistication and frequency in recent years.
