PTA Blocks Over 13,000 Fraudulent URLs to Combat Online Scams in Pakistan
In a major crackdown against cyber fraud, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has processed 13,185 URLs related to electronic scams, successfully blocking 13,021 of them, according to an official report. The move was carried out in collaboration with agencies including the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
📊 Platform-Wise Breakdown of Blocked Links
Here’s how major social media platforms responded to scam-related URL requests:
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Facebook:
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Reported: 1,357
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Blocked: 1,246
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Under Review: 47
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Rejected: 64
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Blocking Efficiency: 91.82%
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Instagram:
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Reported: 41
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Blocked: 39
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Under Review: 1
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Rejected: 1
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Blocking Efficiency: 95.12%
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YouTube:
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Reported: 122
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Blocked: 99
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Under Review: 8
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Rejected: 15
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Blocking Efficiency: 81.15%
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Twitter (X):
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Reported: 6
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Blocked: 5
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Under Review: 1
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Blocking Efficiency: 83.33%
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Others/Miscellaneous:
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Reported: 11,659
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Blocked: 11,632
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Under Review: 17
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Rejected: 10
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Blocking Efficiency: 99.77%
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🛡️ PTA Clarifies Legal Responsibilities
The PTA clarified that while it plays a key role in blocking unlawful online content under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, it does not regulate call centers or software houses.
For issues like cybercrime enforcement and online scams, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and NCCIA are the primary authorities, working under Section 29 of PECA.
PTA’s role is to act only on the recommendations of these law enforcement agencies to block harmful and fraudulent digital content.
📢 PTA Boosts Public Awareness Campaigns
To curb the rise in online scams, the PTA is focusing heavily on public awareness, rolling out:
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Seminars
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TV shows
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SMS alerts
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Social media campaigns
These initiatives aim to educate citizens on how to identify and avoid online fraud, especially scams involving fake investment schemes and social engineering tactics.
