A new scam targeting nurses across Punjab has been uncovered, with fake callers attempting to extort money from government nurses by falsely claiming they can secure approvals for transfers, leave requests, and resignations.
According to sources, some nurses have reportedly transferred money to these fraudulent numbers, while reports have also emerged that the WhatsApp accounts of nurses at several government hospitals have been hacked.
According to the Punjab Health Department, the fake callers are demanding money from nurses under the pretext of processing official matters or obtaining administrative approvals. Authorities have also identified several suspicious mobile phone numbers linked to the scam.
The Health Department has issued an alert to all teaching hospitals, medical colleges, and nursing institutions, warning nurses not to share personal or financial information with any unauthorised individual.
The advisory further instructs nurses to immediately report any suspicious calls or messages to the relevant administration and to avoid making any financial transactions in response to such requests.
PTA warns citizens against fake calls and SMS scams
Earlier, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) 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.
