PTA started campaign against Fraud Calls/ SMSs and Fake Prize Schemes

Don't get trapped in prize and lottery scams, join PTA in the movement against deceptive and fraudulent calls and SMSs. Anonymous calls and SMSs can deprive you of your money. People are deceived and deprived of their hard earned money through fake text messages and phone calls from unknown numbers enticing them with attractive prizes, lotteries and plot or winning any draw.

More so full scale calls and marketing messages from these unwanted numbers irk the customers and snatch their right of privacy. All customers using mobile phones are being informed and alerted through this advertisement that they should not transfer any cash or mobile credit in response to such calls and SMSs from unknown numbers, failing which they themselves will be responsible for any loss accruing from such frauds. If you face such situation, inform the mobile company, FIA and PTA as per the following instructions.

Fake Prize Schemes and Financial Fraud

People often received spamming messages about fake prize schemes e.g.

Benazir Income Support ke taraf se apko Rs.25000 mubarak ho apka yeh number BISP mein Register tha. ap is number per rabita karen.

• Register your complaint at helpline of mobile operator 

           Ufone 333, Zong 310, Warid 321, Mobilink 111, Telenor 345 

• Contact helpline 0800-26477 or FIA (UAN: 111-345-786 or www.fia.gov.pk) to register your complaint in case of BISP (Benazir Income Support Program) fake message.

Unsolicited/ Marketing/ Spamming Calls and SMSs

• To report obnoxious calls and SMS, type sender’s cell number, give a space, type the received message and send it to 9000 e.g. and send it to 9000.
• To block publicity messages, type REG and send it to 3627 to get registration in “Do Not Call Register (DNCR)”. Contact concerned mobile operator if the problem still persists. To allow such messages again write UNREG and send it to 3627.

Obnoxious/ Unknown Calls and SMSs

• Text or dial 420 for required unwanted numbers (for Mobilink, Telenor, Zong or Ufone)
• Text or dial 9211 for required unwanted numbers (for Warid Telecom)

In case your complaint is not redressed call at PTA’s toll free helpline (for PTCL/NTC landline only) 0800-55055 or landline 051-9225325 or E-mail at complaint@pta.gov.pk or visit PTA website to register your complaint.

SIM Verification Procedure for Overseas Pakistanis

Since the SIM re-verification process has been started, Overseas Pakistanis were very curious about verification of their SIMs. Now Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued instructions for SIM verification of overseas Pakistanis. Verification of all SIMs is mandatory but Pakistanis living abroad may adopt any of the following procedure (whichever applicable to them):

For SIMs, present in Pakistan

If you are living abroad but your SIM is present in Pakistan, you can get the ownership of these SIMs changed to a family member who is in Pakistan. Such SIMs along with a relationship should be bought to franchise/service centers of respective operator with request for change in ownership. A proof of relationship with the owner is required for reference.

For SIMs, Operating Overseas on International Roaming

Overseas Pakistanis who have Pakistani SIMs on international roaming don’t have to do anything except only keeping their SIMs active. Your SIM must be ON all the time till it is temporarily verified.

Mobile phone operators will prepare a list of numbers that are ACTIVE on intentional roaming. Preliminary verification of the subscriber with active roaming services will be carried out by respective service provider to assess genuineness of the subscriber.

Overseas Pakistanis may be asked for basic information e.g. CNIC number, mother’s name, date and place of birth, etc. via call to helpline. If preliminary verification is successfully done, CNIC number and SIM registered against it shall be tagged as “Temporarily Verified”. Last date for Biometric verification of these temporarily verified SIMs will be 31 March 2016.

This facility of temporarily verification is not applicable for Pakistani SIMs operating in Afghanistan. However, SIMs on roaming in Afghanistan may be verified by change in ownership.

Others

If you are living abroad and your SIM is not on international roaming or you don't kept your SIM with you and you are also unable to change its ownership to any of your blood relative, you can tell your mobile company the situation. Your SIM will be temporarily blocked/ become unavailable. However you can get your SIM unblocked after verification on your return to Pakistan. Last date for verification of these mobile numbers is also 31 March 2016.