PTA reports over 1,000 fake IDs, 37 hacked accounts to Meta in 2024

ISLAMABAD: According to information released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), 1,043 phony identification documents were reported to Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, in 2024 for blocking and deletion.

Among these phony accounts were impersonations of politicians, public servants, and regular people.

This year, the PTA also handled 37 instances of compromised social media accounts, including 10 WhatsApp and 27 Facebook accounts, which were sent to Meta for recovery. The regulator did clarify, though, that while users frequently report hacking events directly to social media sites, it does not keep thorough records of hacking complaints from prior years.

Direct reporting is encouraged by Meta to promote efficient communication and problem-solving.

The PTA has identified the main causes as data breaches, social engineering scams, and using unprotected public Wi-Fi. Malware, weak passwords, the absence of two-factor authentication (2FA), and the use of free virtual private networks (VPNs) are additional contributing reasons.

The regulator has underlined the value of proactive steps to secure online accounts and digital literacy. To inform people about protecting their accounts, the authority frequently runs public awareness campaigns via social media, print, and SMS.

To improve account security, the PTA has also suggested certain safety measures. It has been recommended that users create stronger passwords, turn on two-factor authentication, and refrain from exchanging security codes or one-time passwords. Other precautions include limiting rights given to third parties, logging out of shared devices, and avoiding sensitive activities on public Wi-Fi.