ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a precautionary advisory to citizens, warning them against fraudulent messages sent by scammers impersonating courier companies and asking for verification codes.
The scammers ask the users to provide the codes sent to them, which pose a huge threat to individual security.
“Genuine courier organizations never ask recipients to enter codes for the delivery of parcels,” said the regulatory authority.
The PTA warned against sharing any kind of verification messages with unknown senders and companies.
According to the agency, it is still protecting consumers from cyber fraud and advising the public to verify the authenticity of such messages before responding to them.
Earlier, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) urged citizens to exercise caution while using WhatsApp, warning of a recent wave of fake messages that may lead to account hacking or data theft.
The authority on Sunday issued an advisory to warn users of potential risk to their data.
According to the PTA, several users have reported receiving suspicious messages on WhatsApp from both local and international numbers.
These messages, impersonating the official WhatsApp account, often include the app’s logo and a clickable URL link — a tactic designed to deceive users into thinking the message is genuine.
“The public is strongly advised not to click on any such links or respond to these messages,” the PTA said in a statement, adding that the messages may falsely claim that the recipient’s WhatsApp account will be closed or needs verification.
Unauthorized access to WhatsApp accounts
“These links are malicious in nature and can be used to steal personal data or gain unauthorized access to users’ WhatsApp accounts,” the advisory warned.
The regulator emphasised that such deceptive messages are part of a broader campaign aimed at compromising the security of mobile users across Pakistan.
