Beware of These Fake Cybersecurity Ads Promising Free Laptops and Internships

Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT) is investigating a suspected fake online campaign operating under the name “Cyber Secure Pakistan” after promotional posts surfaced on LinkedIn advertising cybersecurity training admissions and offering a “Cyber Hero Card” with benefits including free laptops, international certifications, and global internships.

The campaign, promoted through a LinkedIn page titled Cyber Secure Pakistan, claims to have been inaugurated by Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja at COMSTECH, Islamabad, and directs users to apply through the website cybersecurepakistan.pk.

Officials familiar with the matter told ProPakistan that the campaign is not an official government initiative and is currently being investigated by the authorities.

The fake campaign is also allegedly asking applicants to pay Rs. 5,000 as a registration fee for the so-called “Cyber Hero Card”, a demand that officials suspect is fraudulent.

The promotional material advertises free laptops, international certifications, and internship opportunities as incentives for joining the training programme.

The promotional graphics prominently feature the federal IT minister’s photograph alongside logos resembling those of media organizations and cybersecurity initiatives, raising concerns that the campaign may mislead students and job seekers into believing it has official government backing.

The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT) has determined that the campaign is fake, and regulatory or legal action may be initiated against those behind it.