The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has advised citizens to ensure that the SIM cards connected to their WhatsApp accounts are properly registered and active, warning that failure to do so may result in losing access to the messaging platform.
The telecom regulator stressed that protecting one’s digital identity has become a personal responsibility in the modern digital age.
Risk of losing access
According to the PTA, WhatsApp accounts linked to inactive, blocked, deactivated or unregistered SIM cards could become inaccessible.
Steps to secure WhatsApp accounts
To protect chats, contacts and digital identities users have been advised to keep their WhatsApp accounts connected to active and verified SIM cards.
The PTA shared several important guidelines for users:
- Confirm that the phone number linked to WhatsApp is associated with a valid and active SIM card.
- If the original SIM used for the account is no longer active, users should immediately transfer their account to another active number using WhatsApp’s Change Number feature.
- Citizens have also been advised to visit the nearest mobile operator franchise or customer service centre, if required to complete biometric verification and SIM registration procedures.
PTA warns citizens against fake calls and SMS scams
In a separate development, PTA has issued a warning to citizens regarding fake calls and SMS scams in Islamabad.
According to a scam alert released by the PTA, the public has been advised to remain cautious of fraudulent calls and messages. Scammers often impersonate representatives of the PTA, banks, or courier services to steal personal information.
The authority emphasised that citizens should never share their CNIC number, OTP, or passwords with anyone, and should avoid clicking on unknown or suspicious links.
PTA also directed citizens to report any fraud or fake messages through its official complaint portal or the PTA CMS app, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Earlier, the PTA had issued guidelines to prevent the issuance of illegal SIM cards. Citizens were advised not to obtain free SIMs from public places, and instead acquire new SIMs only from authorised customer service centres or franchises of mobile companies.
The advisory further stressed ensuring that no SIM is registered against a person’s CNIC without their consent. Citizens were warned not to undergo biometric verification for free SIM offers, as it may lead to additional SIMs being issued fraudulently in their name.
PTA also urged the public to immediately block any extra or unused SIMs registered under their name.
Also read: PTA warns citizens against fake calls and SMS scams
