PTA warns against fake job scams targeting youth on social media

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued an urgent advisory warning young job seekers to beware of fraudulent employment offers circulating on social media platforms.

According to the PTA, scammers are increasingly using fake job advertisements that promise unusually high salaries, flexible hours, and attractive benefits to lure victims. However, behind these appealing offers lies a growing wave of cyber fraud aimed at stealing personal information and money from unsuspecting citizens.

Officials revealed that these fraudsters often pose as recruitment agents, collecting personal data such as photos, locations, and ID details under the pretense of conducting surveys or hiring processes. “This information can be exploited for criminal or malicious activities against individuals and even national interests,” the PTA warned.

The authority cautioned users to stay vigilant, especially when recruiters insist on communicating only via WhatsApp or other informal messaging apps. Requests for identity documents, home addresses, or personal photos should be treated as red flags. Similarly, demands to download unfamiliar apps or share real-time location data can expose users to serious risks.

To avoid falling victim to such scams, the PTA advised citizens to verify job postings through official company websites, confirmed email addresses, or direct contact with HR departments. Job seekers are also urged not to share any personal information with unverified sources and to report suspicious job advertisements immediately.

Fraud is not confined to Pakistan. And scammers worldwide are growing more adept at concealing their activities in plain sight. One X (formerly Twitter) user by the username of @Jeremyybtc shared this video showing the shrewdness of such scammers.

Young Pakistanis are also advised to stay vigilant and avoid opening untrustworthy links, even if they seem to be legitimate.