ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (PKCERT) has issued a critical advisory alerting citizens to a surge in phishing and spoofing attacks. These fraudulent emails, masquerading as communications from law enforcement agencies, are designed to deceive recipients into divulging sensitive personal and financial information.
The deceptive emails falsely claim to be from entities such as the “Office of Commissioner Police Department” and the “Central Bureau of Investigation,” both of which do not exist in Pakistan. They employ fear tactics, threatening legal action within 24 hours unless the recipient complies, thereby pressuring individuals into responding hastily.
PKCERT emphasizes that these emails often originate from counterfeit domains and not from legitimate government addresses ending in “gov.pk.” The primary risks associated with these attacks include identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to personal accounts.
To safeguard against these threats, PKCERT advises the public to:
Avoid responding to unsolicited emails that demand personal information.
Verify the authenticity of the sender by checking the email domain.
Report suspicious communications to PKCERT or relevant law enforcement agencies.
Regularly monitor bank accounts and email accounts for any unauthorized activity.
By remaining vigilant and adopting proactive security measures, citizens can help mitigate the risks associated with cybercrime and phishing scams.
