A new case of online fraud has emerged in Islamabad, where a citizen lost Rs. 92,500 after receiving a phone call linked to a fake Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) e-challan.
The incident was reported from the Sehala area of Islamabad.
According to details, the victim received a call claiming that a PSCA traffic e-challan had been issued in his name and that an immediate fine of Rs. 500 had to be paid. The caller created a sense of urgency and pressured the victim to make the payment without verifying the claim.
The case raised serious concerns due to the amount of personal information the fraudster possessed. The caller reportedly had complete details of the victim, including his CNIC number, mobile numbers, the number of bank accounts he owned, and information about which account held the highest balance, amounting to millions of rupees.
The fraudster repeatedly tried to force the victim to make the payment from his largest bank account. Acting cautiously, the victim instead paid the Rs. 500 through his EasyPaisa account, which had a balance of Rs. 92,000. Immediately after the transaction, the fraudster transferred the entire amount online, emptying the account within moments.
Although the victim avoided a much larger loss, he still suffered a financial hit of Rs 92,500. The incident serves as a serious warning, as cybercriminals are increasingly gaining access to detailed personal and financial data.
Citizens have been advised not to share CNIC numbers, bank details, OTPs, or verification codes over phone calls. Failure to remain cautious could result in significant financial losses.
I’m sure the victim is lying and it was his own idiocy that led to the scam.