Khuzdar: A serious case of cybercrime has emerged in Khuzdar, where an online scammer created a fake Facebook ID using the name and photos of local resident M.K.
Smalani, and deceived Smalani’s friend in Saudi Arabia into transferring more than Rs 550,000 through a bank account.
Authorities are advising citizens to be extremely cautious while using social media.
According to M.K. Smalani, a resident of Kodask, Khuzdar, an unknown fraudster made a Facebook account impersonating him by using his name, pictures, and personal information.
Through this fake profile, the scammer contacted Smalani’s friend living in Saudi Arabia and requested urgent financial help.
The fraudster convinced the friend by pretending that Smalani was in Khuzdar and in immediate need of money.
After continuous chatting from the fake ID, the friend eventually transferred Rs 550,000 to a bank account in Pakistan.
As soon as the money was sent, the fake Facebook account disappeared.
When the Saudi-based friend later contacted the real M.K. Smalani, he discovered that Smalani was actually in Pakistan and had never asked for money.
Experts described the incident as a “classic case of impersonation fraud.” They warned that people often expose their personal photos and details on social media without proper privacy settings, making it easy for scammers to misuse their identity.
They strongly advised the public to avoid trusting or making financial transactions with suspicious or recently created accounts.
Cybersecurity experts have recommended the following preventive measures:
– Review privacy settings and keep photos and friend lists limited to trusted contacts only.
– Always verify requests for money through a phone call or video call before sending anything.
– Think carefully before making bank transfers, especially from abroad, and ensure full verification.
– Report fake or suspicious accounts immediately to Facebook.
Reports indicate that cybercrime incidents have been rising in Khuzdar, and several residents have previously lost large sums of money to similar online frauds.
