ISALMABAD: The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT) has issued a warning about a surge in honey trap and fake freelancing scams across the country, including Punjab. These scams, operating through WhatsApp and other messaging platforms, lure victims with fake job offers before blackmailing them for huge sums of money.
According to CERT, fraudsters add victims to WhatsApp groups under the pretext of employment or freelancing opportunities. Once inside, victims are shown pornographic content and then blackmailed by criminals posing as law enforcement officials. The scammers demand between Rs. 10 to 15 lakhs to avoid legal action.
The advisory states that victims are often selected based on their social media profiles or group activity. Young people, students, and freelancers are particularly at risk. CERT has urged citizens to take precautions, including tightening privacy settings on WhatsApp and social media, avoiding unverified job offers, and using only trusted freelancing platforms.
Additionally, the public is advised to leave any group sharing explicit content immediately and report blackmail or suspicious activity to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, PTA, or CERT. Authorities are working to crack down on these scams, but vigilance from the public remains critical.
