Digital fraud

Beware of con artists, cyber influencers and digital scammers. Fraud emanating from such sources is now a global phenomenon, and Pakistanis are no exception.

While the country has more than 120 million social media users, and around half of its population is in the grips of illiteracy, they are often found to be sitting ducks for scammers. Promotional temptations in the digital realm act as an instant modus operandi to persuade folks to share their personal information, and subsequently end up in the thick of financial losses.

It is worrisome to note that digital fraud is rising in Pakistan as e-commerce and online payments grow at a rapid rate. The fact that Pakistan has become an easy target for scammers who lure social media users into fake investment schemes promising high returns invites attention from authorities.

The Global State of Scams Report 2025, a study conducted by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and Feedzai, says people are enticed through small profits at the outset to gain trust before they are fleeced. The prime among them are online shopping scams, as more and more people rely on e-commerce transactions.

Pakistan, the survey says, loses a staggering $9 billion per annum through fraud and digital scams. This could be preserved if customers do not share their sensitive data, such as PIN or verification codes to con artists who dupe them by posing as bank reps and salespeople of commercial entities. That piece of personal information is then used for unauthorised transactions or to trick the victims into mega-scams.

While Pakistan loses nearly 2.5% of its GDP in scams, it necessitates a crash course in learning for commoners by the government. The consumers must be educated on precautions while conducting e-transactions, especially while using credit cards and talking to phone representatives. The study points out that every Pakistani individual, on average, is at the receiving end of $139 in financial frauds, and they pertain to shopping, investment, wire transfers and credit card payments.