Women increasingly targeted in online fraud, says Mohsin Naqvi
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said women are increasingly being targeted in online fraud and cybercrime cases, urging citizens, particularly women, to exercise caution when sharing personal pictures on social media.
Speaking to the media during a visit to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore, Naqvi announced measures to strengthen the agency’s capacity to tackle online fraud, harassment and other cybercrimes.
He said a large number of online fraud cases were being reported, with women particularly vulnerable to such offences. He also highlighted cases in which women were blackmailed through videos.
Naqvi urged women to be cautious about sharing their pictures online, warning that such content could expose them to exploitation and blackmail.
The interior minister said the government would provide full support to the NCCIA and increase its operational capacity. He pointed out that the agency had only 61 personnel in Punjab despite the large number of cases it was required to investigate.
“How can the work proceed if an investigation officer is assigned 3,000 to 4,000 cases?” he asked, highlighting the shortage of staff and the burden on investigators.
He said steps were being taken to make the cybercrime police more effective and strengthen the force’s ability to deal with offenders.
Naqvi also warned citizens against transferring money to people making suspicious requests for financial assistance, including those claiming to be ill. He said public awareness campaigns would be launched to educate people about online crimes and fraud.
During his visit, the minister held an open court at the NCCIA’s zonal headquarters and heard complaints from citizens about cybercrime and online fraud. A large number of women reported cases of online harassment and cyber blackmail.
The visit came a day after the NCCIA rescued a minor girl in Karachi who had allegedly been targeted by an online network suspected of links to the dark web.
According to agency officials, the operation was carried out following information provided by an international intelligence agency. The girl had allegedly been assigned a series of dangerous tasks by the online network.
Officials said her first task was to poison and kill a cat, which she had reportedly carried out. A subsequent task allegedly instructed her to inflict serious harm on herself.
The NCCIA intervened before she could carry out the second task, reached the girl and informed her parents, who were reportedly unaware of her online activities.
The agency is investigating the online accounts that had been in contact with the girl, the network’s activities, and the individuals allegedly associated with it.