The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has warned that fake SIMs are being used to defraud citizens through financial scams. NCCIA officials gave the briefing to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee. They said illegally issued SIMs are being used as a tool for local financial fraud.
According to the officials, criminals use fake SIMs to contact citizens and carry out different types of scams. Such SIMs can also make it harder to identify the people behind the fraud. Officials said tracing a SIM does not always lead investigators to the actual suspect. In some cases, the registered owner turns out to be an elderly woman.
The woman may have no knowledge that the SIM was registered in her name. Criminals can then use her identity while carrying out financial scams. However, tighter controls on SIM issuance are also affecting legitimate digital activity.
IT Minister Shaza Fatima said the cooling-off period introduced for SIM issuance is affecting digital transactions.
The minister’s comments highlight the challenge of stopping illegal SIMs without disrupting legitimate users. Authorities are now trying to balance stronger verification with access to digital services. The latest briefing comes as authorities continue their wider crackdown on illegal SIMs and financial fraud.
Illegal SIMs Blocked
Earlier data shows the scale of the problem has been significant. PTA Authorities blocked around 18.2 million SIMs over the preceding two and a half years. NCCIA officials said criminals had been exploiting weaknesses in the SIM verification system for identity and financial fraud.
The PTA chairman also said scammers were obtaining fingerprints from places such as airports, driving licence centres and passport offices. Officials have discussed using facial and iris recognition for SIM issuance.
Biometric Data Recovered
In another investigation, NCCIA recovered biometric data belonging to 600,000 citizens. Authorities also recovered 195 active SIMs, 16 smartphones and 81 ATM cards from a suspect in Faisalabad.
The recovered material showed how stolen biometric information and illegal SIMs can support financial fraud networks. Such networks can use multiple identities to make it harder to trace their activities. The issue has pushed authorities to consider stronger verification methods for SIM issuance. These measures are intended to make it harder for criminals to obtain SIMs using another person’s identity.
Authorities have also discussed better coordination between PTA, NADRA, banks, telecom operators, and law enforcement agencies. The goal is to close gaps that allow illegal SIMs to be used in financial scams. The latest NCCIA briefing puts fake SIMs at the center of the financial fraud problem. At the same time, the government faces pressure to ensure stronger controls do not disrupt legitimate digital transactions.
