PTA, Meta block 176,000 WhatsApp accounts linked to recycled SIMs
- Regulator develops permanent mechanism to shut down accounts on inactive and cancelled numbers
The PTA and Meta have blocked 176,000 WhatsApp accounts linked to recycled mobile numbers to combat cyber fraud, establishing a permanent mechanism to prevent misuse.
- The new permanent mechanism with Meta to block accounts.
- Risks associated with 16 million recycled mobile numbers.
- How inactive SIMs facilitate cyber fraud and misuse.
- Improved coordination between PTA and Meta on complaints.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with Meta, has blocked 176,000 WhatsApp accounts registered against recycled mobile numbers, as the regulator moves to establish a permanent mechanism to prevent cyber fraud through inactive and cancelled SIMs.
PTA officials said that the accounts had been blocked at the authority’s request after complaints emerged that recycled mobile numbers were being exploited to commit cyber fraud through WhatsApp.
The authority has shared around 10 million recycled mobile numbers with Meta for verification and blocking of WhatsApp accounts associated with these numbers. The regulator has also agreed on a permanent mechanism with Meta under which 5,000 recycled numbers will be shared with the platform every month to identify and deactivate associated accounts.
According to PTA officials, telecom operators currently hold around 16 million recycled mobile numbers, posing a growing risk of fraud when WhatsApp accounts registered against these numbers remain active even after the original SIMs have been deactivated or cancelled.
Officials said that such accounts could be misused by new subscribers acquiring recycled numbers, creating opportunities for fraudulent activities and cybercrime.
Under the agreed mechanism, WhatsApp accounts associated with recycled numbers will be blocked in phases to prevent their misuse.
The development follows complaints regarding cyber fraud through WhatsApp accounts linked to inactive mobile numbers, prompting the PTA to engage with Meta for a coordinated solution.
PTA officials further disclosed that Meta had resolved 82% of the complaints forwarded by the regulator during the previous year, reflecting improved coordination between the two sides.
The latest initiative is aimed at strengthening digital security, protecting mobile subscribers and preventing the misuse of WhatsApp accounts following the recycling of mobile numbers by telecom operators.