PTA denies issuing directive to remove foreign members from social media groups

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has warned that a fake notification circulating on social media, claiming that the PTA has instructed social media group administrators to remove foreign members, is entirely false.

In an announcement on its social media platforms on Tuesday, the PTA said it has issued no such directive. “The public is advised to refrain from sharing unverified information and to rely solely on PTA’s official channels for authentic updates.”

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The fake notification commands people to “remove foreigners” from any of their social media groups which are being run from within Pakistan to ensure “protection of their private data and information”.

The faux-announcement also warns of punishment in case of violation of “the directives”.

In another advisory, the telecom body has cautioned of swindlers who try to obtain private data by impersonating a PTA official.

The authority advised not to share any personal information with such people, including OTP and password.

“Scammers often try to obtain your personal information by posing as representatives of PTA, banks, or courier services. 

“Never share your personal information, such as OTP, identity card, or passwords, with anyone and avoid clicking on any suspicious links or messages.”

In case of fraud or suspicious activity, the PTA instructed to immediately register a complaint with the PTA through the Complaint Management System or CMS mobile app.