Copyright pakobserver
ISLAMABAD – Vendors are selling Free SIM cards in every busy chowk of major cities, attracting curious passersby with promises of easy access or free minutes and GBs. But behind these offers lies sinister scheme as people are being tricked into giving their fingerprints, thumb impressions, and other sensitive biometric information. As per recent incidents, SIM cards acquired this way are often misused for identity theft, financial fraud, and other criminal activities. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a stern warning about a dangerous new scam that is putting citizens’ biometric data at risk. Scammers are reportedly stealing fingerprints, thumb impressions, and other sensitive information by luring victims especially women and senior citizens with offers of free SIM cards or fake financial aid schemes. PTA cautioned that SIMs obtained this way are often used in serious criminal activities, including identity theft and large-scale financial fraud. Authorities stressd that giving a SIM card registered in your name to someone else is a criminal offense, punishable under law. Citizens are urged to exercise extreme caution and avoid sharing personal or biometric information with unverified sources. A Pakistani citizen lately lost Rs85 Lac after fraudsters illegally cloned his mobile SIM and had it reissued from Hyderabad. The cloned SIM gave the criminals unauthorized access to his bank account, allowing them to carry out multiple fraudulent transactions. The incident raised serious concerns about the security of mobile SIM registrations and the risks of digital identity theft in Pakistan. Experts warn that such scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, targeting unsuspecting citizens by exploiting loopholes in telecom verification systems. National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has promptly launched an inquiry into the case. Authorities have requested complete account and transaction records from both the bank and the telecom provider involved to trace the flow of funds and identify the culprits.
