PTA launches crackdown against cyber fraud, blocks millions of illegal SIMs

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched a major crackdown against illegal cyber fraud, blocking more than 5.1 million illegal SIMs over the past year.

The authority has also blocked 83 websites involved in the illegal sale of SIM cards.

As part of efforts to clean up the telecom database, 5.122 million SIMs were blocked within one year, while 891,000 inactive SIMs were either blocked or recycled.

SIMs registered in the names of deceased individuals totaled 3.2 million and were blocked. Additionally, 69,000 SIMs issued on canceled or confiscated identity cards were shut down, while 783,000 SIMs registered on expired ID cards were blocked. SIMs issued to deported foreign nationals, numbering 179,000, were also blocked.

The PTA, in coordination with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, carried out operations across 24 cities during the year, conducting 76 raids against illegal local and foreign SIMs. These raids resulted in the seizure of 5,300 local SIMs and 8,000 foreign SIMs.

During the year, authorities also confiscated 99 biometric devices and more than 250,000 digital fingerprints. In 44 raids related to illegal local SIMs, 71 individuals were arrested, while 46 people were arrested in 32 raids involving international SIMs.

The PTA has made three-factor verification mandatory for SIM sellers and has implemented geo-fencing and live finger detection on biometric devices.