PTA, Meta block 176,000 WhatsApp accounts linked to recycled SIMs
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…
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Meta have jointly blocked 176,000 WhatsApp accounts linked to recycled mobile numbers, as part of efforts to curb cyber fraud facilitated by inactive and cancelled SIMs. The PTA initiated this move after receiving complaints about the misuse of recycled mobile numbers on WhatsApp for cyber fraud.
The regulatory body has provided Meta with approximately 10 million recycled mobile numbers for the verification and blocking of associated WhatsApp accounts. In a bid to establish a permanent mechanism, the PTA and Meta have agreed to share 5,000 recycled numbers with the platform monthly to identify and deactivate related accounts.
Telecom operators currently possess around 16 million recycled mobile numbers, which pose a growing risk for fraud when WhatsApp accounts linked to these numbers remain active despite the original SIMs being deactivated or cancelled. Such accounts can be exploited by new subscribers acquiring recycled numbers, leading to potential fraudulent activities and cybercrime.
The agreed mechanism calls for phased blocking of WhatsApp accounts associated with recycled numbers to prevent their misuse. This development comes after complaints about cyber fraud through WhatsApp accounts associated with inactive mobile numbers, prompting the PTA to collaborate with Meta for a coordinated solution. Meta resolved 82% of the complaints forwarded by the PTA the previous year, indicating improved coordination between the two entities.
The latest initiative aims to enhance digital security, protect mobile subscribers, and prevent the misuse of WhatsApp accounts following the recycling of mobile numbers by telecom operators.
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