Financial fraud accounts for 60% of cybercrime cases in Pakistan, according to a briefing given to the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights by officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The officials highlighted the growing use of digital platforms and mobile services to deceive people, steal money and gain unauthorised access to personal information.
According to the briefing, scams involving one-time passwords (OTPs) are the most common form of financial fraud. Fraudulent WhatsApp messages and SMS rank second, while account hacking and cryptocurrency Ponzi schemes were also identified among the methods used by criminals. Officials placed the latter categories fourth on the list of financial fraud types discussed during the meeting.
Committee chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri raised concerns about cryptocurrency-related fraud and referred to the Mir Raza case, noting the role cryptocurrency had played in the matter. The discussion highlighted concerns about how digital financial systems can be exploited and the challenges authorities face when investigating complex online fraud cases.
The committee also discussed a case involving parliamentarians Farhan Chishti and Shehryar Mehr. Senator Quratulain Marri informed members that suspects had allegedly obtained duplicate SIM cards registered to the two parliamentarians. The matter raised concerns about unauthorised SIM issuance and the potential misuse of mobile connections to access digital accounts, impersonate individuals or facilitate financial fraud.
NCCIA officials said the SIM-related matter fell within the jurisdiction of telecommunications companies and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), suggesting that the relevant organisations should be approached for responses. The discussion underscored the importance of clear coordination between cybercrime investigators, telecom operators and regulators when cases involve mobile connections and financial services.
Officials also briefed the committee on online fraud cases involving Chinese nationals, stating that the fraudsters in the cases discussed were operating from Cambodia. The briefing highlighted the cross-border nature of cybercrime and the difficulties investigators may encounter when suspects or criminal networks operate outside Pakistan.
The committee’s discussion emphasised the need for stronger cooperation between law enforcement agencies, telecommunications companies and regulatory authorities to address online scams. The reported prevalence of OTP fraud, fraudulent messages, account hacking and cryptocurrency schemes also highlights the importance of protecting verification codes, securing digital accounts and verifying suspicious requests before sharing personal or financial information.
