ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has dismissed as fake and misleading a warning circulating on social media advising people not to answer calls from 051-7080501.
The viral message, attributed to the PTA, claims that answering a call from the number could result in mobile accounts and personal data being stolen within seconds. It further alleges that the number is linked to software capable of extracting data from a mobile phone during a five-to-seven-second call.
The message urges users to share the warning with their family and friends to protect them from alleged cyber fraud.
However, the PTA has clarified that the warning is fake and has no connection with the authority.
In its clarification, the telecom regulator said that a fake notification regarding the phone number had been circulating on social media for several days. The PTA categorically stated that it had not issued any such alert.
The authority advised the public not to rely on or forward unverified information circulating on social media. It urged users to follow the PTA’s official social media accounts for authentic information and updates.
The clarification comes amid growing concerns over cyber fraud and misleading warnings circulating online.
