Facebook groups trick many into buying fake weapons

Sellers on the social media platform disappear after receiving the payment

LAHORE:

A new form of fraud that lures individuals into buying fake weapons appears to be thriving in Punjab.This time it is the growing illegal trade of guns and weapons via social media sites, in particular Facebook. According to details gathered by the Express Tribune, individuals claiming to be dealers of expensive foreign weapons, trick customers into paying exorbitant amounts for cheap, and locally manufactured copies.

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“Items on display are never delivered to the customers. Instead, they either block them or send cheap locally made copies of the same product,” said one buyer. A survey of the social media platform revealed the presence of several such groups. Weapons for sale, one buyer said, are displayed through closed or secret Facebook groups. Many of these groups, he claimed, are being managed by companies that have no physical outlets in the province. “These groups go missing after they receive money from people.

The transaction is mostly done in cash prior to the promised delivery date,” said the buyer, who was speaking on the condition of anonymity. In addition to selling illegal weapons, these groups are also tricking people into paying for fake arms licenses. “These groups have made millions by duping people into buying weapons illegally,” added the buyer, who has paid for an automatic rifle he never received. A recent report by Bloomberg’s technology section suggests that Facebook has revised the rules for public and private groups.

 

According to the article, the social media platform has announced new rules to better police groups. However, no action has been taken by the social media platform against groups behind the sale of fake weapons in Pakistan. Commenting on the issue, the Punjab Police spokesperson said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrime unit. “Such complaints are probed by the FIA. However, if a complaint is registered, we take strict action against the offenders,” said Deputy Inspector General (operations) Sohail Akhtar Sukhera, who serves as the department’s spokesperson.

Old licenses

On the other hand, the provincial home department and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) still appear to be struggling with the issue of assigning a deadline for the computerization of all manual licenses. The plan to digitize all records has been pending despite concerns about the rampant use of forged registration documents in the province. Details shared by the home department reveal there are more than 800,000 arms licenses that cannot be validated.

Officials said these permits were issued in the name of individuals who are no longer alive. Department records also show more than 1.5 million licenses have not been submitted for verification, which is mandatory. So far, 950,000 licenses have been verified by NADRA. Department insiders believe a significant number of arms licenses that have not been submitted for validation are fake and cannot be verified. To simplify the process of validation, officials said, the home department is considering the possibility of authorizing deputy commissioners for issuing and modifying arms licenses.