A new scam targeting citizens during Independence Day celebrations is circulating in Pakistan, with fake SMS and WhatsApp messages falsely claiming that Rs. 13,000 in cash is being offered to citizens.
The fraudulent messages contain potentially malicious or deceptive links that could put users at risk of losing personal or financial information if clicked. The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) has issued a formal advisory after multiple reports of the scam messages began surfacing.
How the Scam Works
According to National CERT, the messages are designed to lure recipients in with the promise of Rs. 13,000 in Independence Day cash. The links embedded in these messages can be used to steal sensitive personal or financial information from anyone who clicks through or enters their details.
Official Advice: Don’t Click, Don’t Respond
National CERT has warned citizens not to click on suspicious links received via SMS or WhatsApp and to avoid sharing any personal or financial information in response to such messages. The agency also advised against replying to or forwarding the fraudulent messages — instead, users should delete them, block the sender, and report the message.
How to Verify a Suspicious Link
Citizens can verify suspicious URLs before opening them through National CERT’s Phish-Radar platform, which allows users to check whether a link is potentially malicious. The tool is available at National CERT’s Phish-Radar.
National CERT has urged the public to stay vigilant against these kinds of messages and to verify the authenticity of any cash offers, links, or online claims before sharing personal or financial details.
