Menace of fraudulent calls

Criminals use personal data to emotionally blackmail victims, get money

The growing usage of modern technologies has benefited society greatly. However, it has also attracted criminals to commit online crimes. Some fraudsters and criminals use technology for financial gain. Much of this fraud directly impacts individuals, both when using browser-based and mobile-based internet services, and while using traditional voice calls via landlines or cell phones.

Recently, around 25 cases have been reported to Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) in which unscrupulous elements are making phone calls to individuals, impersonating police officials and asking for money for settlement. This also raises questions about the corruption within the police, if the people are easily trapped and are forced to pay, does that mean it is a regular practice?

The fraudsters got hold of the personal information of people along with their names, professions and other basic information. Later on, they are using this information to trap them with fake calls. Talha Jatoi, the anchorperson of Bol TV, received a call which stated that his nephew was arrested. He was aware of the fraud. He began to cross-question them. He also enquired about the names of the boys who were supposedly arrested. He asked the fake callers about their identification and other details which bewildered them. At first, they tried to cope with the situation. Later on, they disconnected the call.

But Pervaiz Khan was not as lucky as Jatoi. According to Khan, he received a call on his cellphone from a person who introduced himself as a sub-inspector at Saddar police station. The fake caller then informed him of his nephew’s arrest. The caller further stated that his nephew, along with a group of notorious boys, were involved in a rape case. The caller said that as his nephew seemed innocent in the case, he would be given a safe exit only if the amount of 100,000 rupees be transferred to them as a settlement.

“They made me talk with a boy who was crying and saying ‘mamu bacha lyn mujhay’ (uncle, please save me). I got nervous and didn’t have a clue what to do next, therefore, I agreed to whatever they demanded.” The fraudster, he added, agreed to settle for 50,000 rupees. Khan told them that he had only Rs 3,000 in hand, and they told him to transfer this amount immediately, which he eventually did. “I wanted to go to the police station to give the money, but they forbade me to come there saying things may go ‘wrong’ and the nephew’s release would become difficult.”

Khan tried to contact his nephew but the number was not responsive. Later, it was disclosed that his nephew was on his way to work and had kept the mobile phone inside his bag.

Khan started to arrange for the money and kept giving them in instalments till he paid Rs 48,000 in all. He was then asked to pay Rs 10,000 more for the person who will get the release paper signed by the authority. Mr Khan got upset and decided to head to the police station to see the situation himself. Upon reaching there, he found out that it was a fraud.

Khan wanted to lodge an FIR but he was told that the case did not come under the police station’s jurisdiction and that he must report it to the department dealing with cyber crimes.

Ahmed Chinoy, an ex-chief of CPLC, while talking about the recent scam stressed that such cases must not go unreported. According to him, these fraudulent cases come under the jurisdiction of a police station under sections 420 and 424. “The victim should go to the police station and report it to the Federal Investigation Agency as well. This should also be made clear to the public through awareness messages that which department investigates these cases.”

“This is the time when the cyber wing needs to be more efficient than ever. The cases in which a SIM is used to make a call must be taken up by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority as well.”

Chinoy stated that the Cyber Wing of FIA is now more active in monitoring political posts rather than frauds. “People are being trapped, harassed and misguided by unscrupulous elements on browser-based and mobile-based internet services but the concerned departments are busy in guarding the influential and powerful lots,” he opined.

According to Zain Qureshi, an advocate of the Lahore High Court, such cases fall under the jurisdiction of FIA. He explained, “In such cases, a fake call is made through an unauthorised number and also money is transferred through bank account, ‘Easypaisa’, ‘Jazz cash’ or other such services which makes it clear that these cases fall under the jurisdiction of FIA. Unauthorised issuance of SIM cards is a crime, under section 17 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, and an immediate crackdown is necessary to curb this menace of cyber fraud.”

Qureshi has also advised people not to respond to any call in which personal details are asked. “The way you respond to strangers in public places and avoid sharing your details, the same practice should be exercised in response to computer-generated messages or audio calls.”

He said the scammers don’t have the correct information always, rather they play with emotions. “They play with psyche and respondents divulge details themselves. When someone is confused, he can’t figure out the situation. The thing which may help you is to be aware of such fraud cases by reporting it, and warning others about it.”

Box story

The arrest that wasn’t

By Beena Khan

Karachi

False claims about the arrest of a loved one are spreading. Recently Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in charge, Raja Umer Khattab posted a video on social media. Raja Umer Khattab usually shies away from social media. In the video, he is pleading with the people to be vigilant.

According to him, criminals get basic information about their potential victims. They place a call stating that their loved one, be it a nephew or a brother has been arrested. They then produce an ‘actor’ or as Khattab put it a ‘dummy’ who pleads with the victim not to tell his parents. Most of the victims trapped in this manner had some ‘male’ family member allegedly arrested. Most of them were told the call was from Saddar Police. They then threaten the victim with ‘dire consequences’ and intimidate them into paying an agreed sum. This happens swiftly, as the victim is in a state of shock and grappling with the fact that his loved one could stoop to such levels. Most people pay. Khattab urges people to get in touch with the actual person. “Please get in touch with the person immediately.”

Most people, due to shock and nervousness fail to do so and are deprived of their savings. He states in the video to not share any personal information. He also wants this issue to be highlighted, as CTD is supposed to deal with such cases of terrorism or potential terrorism. CTD is pursuing the case as well, which leads one to believe that the situation is more serious than one had thought. The issue of fake SIMs and fraud is getting out of control and it makes sense for the CTD to get involved, as fake SIMs are also used by terrorists for their activities.

Before things get out of control the security officials need to cancel all the unregistered SIMs, as was done a few years back, and also to put a limit on the number of SIMs one person can have. This is done through NADRA. Meanwhile, it is always better to be safe than sorry, so it is wise not to give in to panic.