SMS · 8XXX / unknown numberCongratulations! Your Rs 25,000 BISP payment is approved. To receive, send your CNIC and the code you get to this number.
How it works: Scammers copy official names and logos, then collect your CNIC, OTPs or a “processing fee”. With the OTP they open wallets or take over accounts in your name.
Red flags & What to do
Red flags
You never applied, but you “won” or “qualified”
Message from a normal mobile number
Asks for OTP, PIN or a fee
Link that is not exactly .gov.pk
What to do
Check only on the official programme website or official short code
WhatsApp · often a friend’s hacked accountSorry, I sent a 6-digit code to your number by mistake. Please send it to me, urgent.
How it works: They are registering YOUR number on their phone. The code is yours. Once shared, they take over your WhatsApp and ask your contacts for money.
Red flags & What to do
Red flags
Anyone asking for a WhatsApp code
Urgency and emojis like 🙏
Friend writes in an unusual way
What to do
Never forward the code
Turn on two-step verification (Settings → Account)
Hijacked? Re-register WhatsApp with your number and warn contacts
Phone call · sometimes an AI-cloned voiceYour son has been caught after an accident. Send Rs 50,000 right now to settle it — and don’t tell anyone.
How it works: Fear removes logic. Callers pose as police, a friend or a relative — sometimes with a voice that sounds familiar — and demand instant payment.
WhatsApp / Telegram / Facebook adEarn Rs 5,000 daily from home — just like videos and rate products. Joining fee Rs 1,500. Limited seats!
How it works: You get small payouts at first to build trust, then you must “deposit” larger amounts to unlock VIP tasks or withdraw. The money is gone.
Red flags & What to do
Red flags
Any fee before work starts
Unrealistic daily income
Recruiter refuses a video call or office address
What to do
Never pay to get a job
Search the company name + “scam” and check official websites
Report the group/number on the platform and to NCCIA
Instagram / Facebook / WhatsApp video callI have your video. Pay Rs 30,000 in 1 hour or I send it to your family and university group.
How it works: A friendly fake profile builds trust, records a video call or receives pictures (sometimes edited/AI-made), then threatens to share them.
Red flags & What to do
Red flags
New account that quickly turns flirty
Pushes for a video call or pictures
Countdown deadline for payment
What to do
Do NOT pay — stop replying, keep the chat
Tell someone you trust; you are not alone
Report to NCCIA (1799) · confidential help: DRF 0800-39393 · or our support form
Robocall or caller posing as an officialYour SIM biometric verification is incomplete and will be blocked in 2 hours. Press 1 or share the code to re-verify.
How it works: Fear of losing your number makes you share codes or personal details that are used to hijack wallets, WhatsApp or to issue a duplicate SIM.
Red flags & What to do
Red flags
Officials don’t verify SIMs over phone calls
Request for codes or CNIC details
Short deadline
What to do
Hang up; visit your operator’s franchise if worried
SMS your CNIC number to 668 to see SIMs on your name
Fake wallet SMS + phone callYou have received Rs 8,000 from 03XX. [then a call] Brother, I sent it by mistake, it was my child’s fee, please return it.
How it works: The SMS is fake, typed from a normal number. Nothing actually arrived — you send your own money.
Red flags & What to do
Red flags
Credit SMS from a regular mobile number
Emotional story and pressure
Balance in app doesn’t match
What to do
Check the balance inside the official app
If money truly arrived, let the wallet helpline reverse it
Seen a new scam? Tell us through the contact form so we can warn others. If you lost money or a crime happened, always report it to NCCIA (1799).
FAQ
Online scams in Pakistan: questions
What are the most common online scams in Pakistan?
The most common online scams in Pakistan are fake BISP and prize messages, calls pretending to be from a bank or JazzCash/Easypaisa asking for a code, WhatsApp account takeovers, “task” jobs, illegal loan apps and sextortion.
How can I tell if a message is a scam?
Watch for four signs: urgency, fear, a prize you never applied for, and any request for an OTP, PIN or fee. If you are unsure, paste the message into our scam checker: open the guide
I shared a code or sent money. What should I do now?
Call your bank or wallet’s official helpline at once to block the account, change your passwords, keep screenshots and transaction IDs, and report to NCCIA on 1799. Acting within the first hour helps most.
How do I warn my family about online scams?
Share any scam card from this page on WhatsApp, or send our ready-made tip cards to family groups. Elders and children are targeted most, so a short message today can prevent a loss tomorrow.
Something wrong happening online?
You are not alone. Get help now.
Report cybercrime to the official agency, NCCIA. If you are facing harassment or blackmail, our team guides you confidentially.