Islamabad—The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has issued a fresh public alert warning citizen about a rise in fraudulent calls and messages impersonating government institutions and banks.
The agency cautioned that scammers are increasingly using WhatsApp and other messaging platforms to deceive people, leading to financial losses and data theft.
In its advisory issued on Monday, the NCCIA stressed that official institutions, including banks, NADRA, the Pakistan Army, and the FIA, never contact citizens through WhatsApp calls or messages.
Any call or message claiming to be from these authorities should be considered fake and blocked immediately.
The agency also warned that requests for one-time passwords (OTPs) are always fraudulent and should never be shared.
Fake calls, OTP traps and bank impersonation
The NCCIA clarified that legitimate banks do not threaten customers with account closures or demand sensitive information over calls or messages.
Citizens were urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to relevant authorities.
According to the agency, these scams often rely on urgency and fear to manipulate victims. Fraudsters may pose as officials and claim accounts are compromised, pushing people to share OTPs or personal details.
The NCCIA said awareness is the first line of defence against such cyber fraud.
What to do if your WhatsApp gets hacked
The advisory also outlined clear steps to follow if a WhatsApp account is compromised. Users should immediately uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, then log in using their registered phone number.
A six-digit verification code sent via SMS must be entered promptly.
Once this code is used, WhatsApp automatically logs out the hacker as the app can operate on only one device at a time.
In cases where a hacker has enabled two-step verification, WhatsApp may ask users to wait for seven days.
The NCCIA advised users not to panic, explaining that during this period no one can access or read messages.
Users who have linked an email address to their account can recover access faster by selecting the “Forgot PIN” option.
The NCCIA urged the public to avoid clicking suspicious links, refrain from sharing personal information, and stay alert while using social media and messaging apps, as part of ongoing efforts to counter cybercrime.
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