PTA Blocks Over 600 URLs Linked to Financial Fraud

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has processed a total of 604 URLs for blocking in connection with online financial fraud, the National Assembly was informed through a written reply submitted by the Minister in charge of the Cabinet Division. The action was taken in response to complaints received from stakeholder organizations such as the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), who report such content through PTA’s Electronic Portal (E-Portal) and official correspondence. The E-Portal is a dedicated online platform developed by PTA to facilitate reports from government stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, regulators, ministries, and the armed forces. The reply confirmed the existence of fake profiles across various social media platforms, which are being used to commit financial fraud by tricking individuals into depositing money into fraudulent bank accounts. These accounts often use deceptive tactics to gain victims’ trust, making detection and enforcement more complex. While these platforms are being used to carry out illegal financial activities, the primary challenge remains the rapid creation and disappearance of such fake identities. According to the document, PTA has taken a range of steps to counter these illegal practices. Besides processing the 604 URLs for blocking, the authority has also undertaken extensive awareness campaigns to educate the public about the risks of online financial scams. These campaigns are aimed at reducing victimization by equipping users with information to identify and avoid fraudulent schemes circulating on digital platforms. PTA is also engaged in regular consultations with major social media companies, where it raises the issue of permanently blocking accounts or users involved in repeated violations. However, enforcement remains limited. The PTA has acknowledged that the physical identification of offenders and restricting their digital access is difficult due to various factors, including anonymization technologies, use of VPNs, fake digital identities, and jurisdictional barriers that hinder effective tracking and prosecution.