ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT) is investigating a suspected fake online campaign operating under the name “Cyber Secure Pakistan” advertising cybersecurity training admissions and offering a “Cyber Hero Card” with benefits including free laptops, international certifications, and global internships.
Promotional posts surfaced on LinkedIn advertising cybersecurity training admission along with a ‘Cyber Hero Card’ comprising benefits such as free laptops, international certifications, and global internships under the banner of the fake online campaign called ‘Cyber Secure Pakistan’.
As per its social media promotions, the campaign has also claimed to be inaugurated by Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja at COMSTECH Islamabad, and people are instructed to apply for this campaign on the website cybersecurepakistan.pk.
However, officials who were familiar with the issue told ProPakistan that the campaign was not an official government initiative and was currently under investigation by the authorities.
“The fake campaign is reportedly asking candidates to pay an application fee of Rs. 5,000 towards a ‘registration’ for the “Cyber Hero Card. This seems to be yet another fraudulent element,” said officials.
Promotional material promises participants will get everything from free laptops and international certifications to internship opportunities as an incentive for joining their training programme.
Graphics used to promote this scheme prominently display the photograph of the federal IT minister along with logos which look similar to various media organizations and cybersecurity initiatives, leaving many fearing that such efforts might lead students and job seekers to believe they have official govt backing.
According to the National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT), this campaign is fake, and regulatory/legal actions might also be initiated against those behind this.
