Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Khurram Ali has raised concerns over a significant surge in WhatsApp and bank account hacking cases across Pakistan.
He said the agency has prepared a comprehensive action plan to combat the growing threat of cybercrime and protect citizens from online fraud.
Speaking to the media, Khurram Ali said that a special helpline will soon be established to assist victims of WhatsApp hacking. The helpline will provide users with account recovery support and guidance on restoring hacked WhatsApp accounts.
He added that, with the support of Meta, a public awareness campaign will also be launched in local languages to educate citizens about ways to prevent cyber fraud.
According to the Director General of NCCIA, cases of WhatsApp hacking have decreased in some areas following campaigns encouraging users to enable two-step verification. However, cybercriminals are now adopting new techniques to carry out such crimes.
He said that the growing use of the internet and mobile phones has contributed to an overall rise in online fraud and cybercrime.
Khurram Ali further stated that, through international cooperation, several cybercrime gangs operating in Pakistan have been arrested. He added that efforts are also underway to prevent the misuse of One-Time Passwords (OTPs) through advanced technology.
He strictly advised the public not to share the confidential OTP code received on their mobile phones with anyone under any circumstances, as sharing OTPs is one of the main reasons behind WhatsApp and bank account hacking incidents. He urged citizens to adopt security measures to protect their WhatsApp accounts and bank accounts from cyber threats.
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