Nowadays, groups of scammers are highly active, looting innocent people across the country. They usually target those who get trapped by their scripted conversations. More often than not, the victims are guardians — a father, mother or elder brother — who receive a call from a member of the scamming group. They are told that their son has been taken to a police station and will be kept in detention. The scammers immediately demand a large sum of money, labeling it as chai-pani. In the midst of panic, people hastily pay a handsome amount for the safety of their children.
There are some precautions that need to be taken if someone receives such calls. First and foremost, they should cross-verify by contacting their children directly to confirm whether they are safe. Citizens must also file a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. Millions of rupees have already been looted by these scammers. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of emerging cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, which makes it easier than ever to deceive people using fake voices and accents.
Muhammad Waleed
Lahore
