PTA issues warning over fake courier messages seeking verification codes

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a public advisory warning against a rising trend of fraudulent messages falsely claiming to be from courier companies and asking users to enter verification codes.

In its official statement, the PTA cautioned that these deceptive messages are part of scams designed to trick recipients into revealing verification or one-time passcodes (OTPs), which can then be misused to access personal accounts and sensitive information.

The telecom regulator stressed that legitimate courier services do not require customers to input any verification codes to receive packages. It urged citizens to remain vigilant and avoid sharing codes received through SMS or messaging apps under any circumstances.

“These codes are meant to protect your digital accounts. Sharing them can result in unauthorised access to your personal data,” the PTA stated.

The authority reiterated its commitment to protecting users from digital fraud and advised the public to verify the authenticity of messages before taking any action.

Financial institutions have also issued similar warnings, reminding customers not to disclose OTPs to anyone posing as a bank or regulatory official.

The PTA continues to monitor such fraudulent activities and encourages users to report suspicious messages to the relevant authorities.