Citizens fall prey to online frauds
Online scams targeting social media accounts have surged in South Punjab, leaving residents financially stressed and mentally strained as criminals exploit digital platforms to coerce money through deceitful tactics.
Experts report that attackers are employing increasingly sophisticated methods to gain unauthorized access to personal accounts on popular networks. Once inside, they impersonate the account holder and send urgent messages to friends and relatives, requesting financial help under false pretenses by citing fake emergencies.
In one case from Multan, a resident found that his social media account had been hijacked. The perpetrators contacted several contacts from his friend list, demanding money under false pretenses. The victim described embarrassment and anxiety as they tried to inform others that the account had been compromised.
In another incident, a resident was defrauded of Rs125,000 after cybercriminals posed as a relative and manipulated them into transferring the amount. Victims say their hard-earned savings were siphoned away within minutes.
Cybersecurity experts warn that phishing links, fake verification messages, and cloned profiles are among the most common tools used by hackers. They urge users to enable two-factor authentication, avoid clicking suspicious links, and report unusual activity immediately to mitigate further damage.
