The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Lahore, has arrested a Ufone Area Sales Manager (ASM) and franchise owner for their involvement in the illegal issuance of SIMs and unauthorized creation of Upaisa accounts.
The raid was carried out by PTA’s Zonal Office Lahore at a Ufone franchise located in Phase 8, DHA Lahore. The operation revealed shocking evidence, including 152,000 illegally collected fingerprints in PDF format (with 10 and 8 FPS), found on the franchise owner’s laptop. These biometric records were allegedly used to activate unauthorized SIMs and register fake Upaisa accounts.
Authorities also confiscated multiple biometric verification devices (BVS), including 6 Ufone BVS devices and 3 Jazz BVS devices, along with 7 active Ufone SIMs used for illegal activities. Both the franchise owner and the Ufone Area Sales Manager were taken into custody during the raid and will be prosecuted under cybercrime and telecommunication laws.
This successful enforcement action highlights PTA’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the menace of fake SIMs and financial fraud in Pakistan’s telecom sector. The unauthorized use of SIMs not only poses serious security risks but also facilitates illegal financial transactions and scams that impact innocent citizens.
The PTA has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards illegal SIM issuance and urges all telecom operators to strictly adhere to SIM issuance protocols. Any franchises or employees found guilty of violating these protocols will face legal consequences.
Citizens are also advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or SIM-related fraud. Complaints can be made by calling the PTA helpline at 0800-55055.
This decisive action marks another important step in securing Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and protecting consumers from telecom and financial fraud.