ISLAMABAD / KARACHI: A major scam of looting money from bank accounts through fake sims cards has been unveiled.
According to the sources, a major financial cybercrime network has been uncovered in Pakistan as millions stolen from bank accounts through duplicate SIM card fraud scheme targeting MNAs and businessmen, affecting high-profile lawmakers and commercial traders alike.
According to an investigative report published in The News, MQM Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Farhan Chishti discovered his mobile SIM deactivated upon landing at Islamabad Airport.
Investigations revealed that an unauthorized duplicate SIM had been fraudulently issued in Malir, Karachi, using deceptive biometric verification tactics involving a local retailer.
The fraudster subsequently activated online banking under the lawmaker’s name, increased transaction limits, set a new password, and illegally transferred Rs 1.5 million to external accounts registered under unsuspecting citizens in Sindh and Southern Punjab.
In a similar operation, MNA Shahryar Mahar lost Rs 2 million, while Karachi-based businessman Sunny Kumar was defrauded of Rs 8.5 million after a duplicate SIM was issued from Dhabeji, Thatta.
Investigations into the breach revealed internal complicity, as a branch service officer stationed at a bank in Mardan accessed account details prior to the duplicate SIM issuance, having illegally inspected around 30 distinct customer accounts.
Authorities from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) continue probing the matter after confirming how millions stolen from bank accounts through duplicate SIM card fraud scheme targeting MNAs and businessmen.
Major Causes of Fake SIM Cards Crimes
Fake SIM card crimes thrive due to several interconnected structural vulnerabilities across the telecommunications and financial sectors.
Unscrupulous franchise agents and telecom retailers frequently bypass mandatory verification protocols to earn quick commissions or profit from active bribery.
Criminals exploit these loopholes by employing deceptive biometric spoofing, such as using silicon thumb impressions, stolen fingerprint molds, or tricking retail staff to capture unauthorized scans.
Furthermore, lax database auditing and inadequate real-time cross-referencing between telecommunication operators and national identity databases allow fraudulent duplicate SIMs to slip through undetected.
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These vulnerabilities are compounded by insider threats, where corrupt employees within financial institutions and telecom companies leak sensitive customer records, directly enabling targeted SIM-swapping and subsequent unauthorized online banking fraud.
