lRecently, there has been a spate of mobile phone hacking in Punjab. There are reports that people have lost lakhs of rupees after hackers accessed their bank account details. According to media reports, of the over 2,500 such complaints lodged with the cybercrime wing of the FIA, most are about hacking of phone records, websites and social media. The hackers did not even spare people’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts and used them for blackmailing by uploading objectionable messages and obscene video clips there. In many cases, the fraud was perpetrated using hacked social media accounts. In many cases, users remained unaware about the hacking of their accounts and came to know about it only when they received notices from FIA to investigate the complaints.

Often users are unaware that their e-mail, social media accounts and other tools have been hacked. Fraudsters also intercept messages sent to users from phone companies about system upgrades and changes. Through this they gain access to important information about users and use them for their own purposes. Experts attribute the rise in online fraud cases to a lack of awareness about the use of modern communication technology at a time when the need for knowledge of tools needed to thwart hacking attempts is on the rise. Surprisingly, the FIA ​​claims that they are yet to receive orders to conduct a detailed probe into the issue. They say that they will need the assistance of the PTA and other concerned organizations to conduct such inquiries.

Espionage fraudsters also include people holding responsible official and elected positions. Same thing next door. In New Delhi, there is news of hacking of mobile phones of several Pakistani politicians and officials through Israeli-made spyware Pegasus. PM Modi’s government is also accused of hacking mobile phones of politicians from opposition parties as well as journalists. But despite serious allegations, the authoritarian regime has not bothered to launch an investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, 6 August^th2021.

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