The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the nation’s central bank, has issued a significant public warning, cautioning citizens about a new and sophisticated financial fraud scheme. Scammers have devised a new psychological tactic to steal hard-earned money from the public.
Under this new method, fraudsters stage a drama of having “mistakenly sent money.” They target individuals by claiming via a call or SMS that they have accidentally transferred funds into the victim’s bank account.
Immediately following this claim, the scammers begin to apply intense pressure on the victim, demanding they “return” the money right away. The SBP has clarified that citizens must not give in to this pressure, as this is a “deliberate and calculated new tactic” designed solely to steal money from their accounts.
Instructions for Citizens:
The central bank has advised the public not to trust any such calls or text messages, especially if the communication comes from a regular mobile number instead of an official, verified bank channel.
- Verify First: If you receive such a call, do not panic. First, independently check your recent bank account transactions to verify the claim.
- Do Not Transfer: Never transfer any money back to anyone unless you have confirmed that the funds actually arrived in your account.
- Report Immediately: If you fall victim to this scam, contact your bank’s helpline immediately and inform them. Additionally, you must report the fraudulent number to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) at 080025625.
The SBP also reiterated its standing warning: citizens must never share their personal information, bank account details, or One-Time Passwords (OTPs) with anyone, regardless of whether the person claims to be a bank representative.
