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Pakistan (PK)

Pakistan is South Asia's second-largest country and a land of extraordinary contrasts — from the towering Karakoram peaks in the north to the bustling port city of Karachi on the Arabian Sea.

Capital: Islamabad
Region: Asia
Language: Urdu
Currency: PKR (₨)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 20)
Emergency: 15
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Pakistan.

Apply for Pakistan visas only through the official NADRA portal (visa.nadra.gov.pk) — no other website is authorised. Never share a JazzCash, Easypaisa or bank OTP with anyone who contacts you; Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) received over 150,000 cybercrime complaints in 2025, with mobile-wallet fraud accounting for the largest share. Always use an independent lawyer for property transactions and verify every title document independently.

JazzCash / Easypaisa OTP fraud

critical

A caller impersonates JazzCash, Easypaisa, a bank, the FBR, a charity or even a police officer and claims your account is blocked, a payment has failed, or you have won a prize. They ask for the OTP sent to your phone to "verify" or "reverse" the transaction. Once shared, your wallet is emptied instantly. This is Pakistan's most prevalent cybercrime: the NCCIA reported 81,996 financial fraud complaints in 2025. Scammers increasingly use WhatsApp and fake Facebook profiles to approach victims.

How to spot it
  • - Caller asks for your OTP, PIN or wallet password — JazzCash and Easypaisa will never ask for these
  • - Urgency: account blocked, prize expiring or SIM suspended unless you act immediately
  • - WhatsApp message from a contact claiming to need you to send an OTP "by mistake"
  • - Fake JazzCash or Easypaisa app interface shared via screenshot asking for login credentials
  • - Caller ID appears to be a bank number but tone is pressured and grammar is inconsistent
What to do: Hang up immediately. Do not share an OTP under any circumstances. Report to the NCCIA online portal (complaint.nccia.gov.pk) or call the NCCIA cybercrime helpline. Report to JazzCash at 111-124-444 or Easypaisa at 0311-1003737. If your wallet has been drained, contact your mobile operator immediately to temporarily suspend the account.

Fake visa or work permit fixer

critical

An agent promises to guarantee a Pakistan work visa, convert a tourist visa to a work visa, or obtain a police verification clearance without using the official process — all for an upfront cash fee. Pakistan work visas are issued through embassies based on a confirmed employer and a Board of Investment or relevant ministry approval; no third party can bypass this. Fake fixer websites also impersonate the official NADRA visa portal (visa.nadra.gov.pk).

How to spot it
  • - Promise of a "guaranteed" work visa or police clearance without a named, verifiable employer
  • - Demands cash only with no official receipt or tax invoice
  • - Claims a visit or business visa can be converted to a work visa without leaving Pakistan
  • - No official reference number from the Board of Investment, employer or relevant ministry
  • - Website URL is not visa.nadra.gov.pk but looks similar
What to do: Use your employer's HR team and a licensed Pakistani lawyer. Official Pakistan visa applications are made at visa.nadra.gov.pk or through a Pakistan embassy. Report fake agents and fake visa websites to the NCCIA (complaint.nccia.gov.pk) and FIA (fia.gov.pk).

Property title shortcut and fraud

critical

A developer or broker pressures you to pay a "token" booking amount immediately, discourages independent legal verification, and claims the title process is straightforward. Land records in Pakistan are provincial and society-specific; double-sales, fake allotment letters, forged mutation documents and inheritance gaps are common. Once a token is paid it may be very difficult to recover.

How to spot it
  • - Seller discourages or delays your access to an independent property lawyer
  • - No original allotment letter, registry document or mutation record is produced for review
  • - Pressure to pay a token booking before title due diligence has been completed
  • - Transfer is described as "simple" with no mention of FBR, provincial stamp duty or CVT implications
  • - Broker cannot name the development authority (DHA, LDA, CDA, etc.) or society registration number
What to do: Engage an independent property lawyer before paying any amount. Verify title documents through the provincial land registry or development authority. Never pay a booking token before completing due diligence. Report title fraud to the relevant provincial authority and NCCIA if digital fraud is involved.

Rental deposit before viewing

warning

A scammer copies real property photos from Pakistan property portals (Zameen, Graana) and lists the apartment below market rent. They demand a JazzCash, Easypaisa or bank deposit to "secure" the flat before viewing, then disappear. This is most common in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi high-demand neighbourhoods.

How to spot it
  • - Rent is noticeably below comparable properties in the same sector or area
  • - Landlord is "abroad" or "travelling" and cannot arrange an in-person or video viewing
  • - Contact is limited to WhatsApp with no verifiable office number or registered agent
  • - Urgency: another applicant is about to take the property unless you pay immediately
  • - No written tenancy agreement or signed receipt offered before payment
What to do: Never transfer any deposit without completing a live or video viewing and verifying the landlord's authority to lease. Always sign a written tenancy agreement before paying. Use established agents with verifiable offices and RERA registration where applicable.

Counterfeit currency exchange

warning

Informal money changers at markets, bus stations or near airports offer slightly better exchange rates but provide bundles containing counterfeit notes or short counts. Counterfeit Pakistani rupees are most common in high-denomination Rs 5,000 and Rs 1,000 notes.

How to spot it
  • - Rate offered is better than the State Bank of Pakistan or any licensed exchange company
  • - Exchange takes place on a side street, in a vehicle or away from a licensed outlet
  • - Changer handles the notes and refuses to let you count at the counter
  • - Bundle feels unusually thick or thin, or notes have inconsistent paper texture
  • - No official receipt and no visible licence or signage
What to do: Exchange only at State Bank licensed exchange companies or banks. Count notes at the counter before leaving. Report counterfeit currency to the nearest SBP branch or Pakistan Police.

Domestic staff reference fraud

warning

An agent or candidate provides references that cannot be verified or are entirely fabricated. The worker or driver takes an advance salary payment, household valuables or vehicle and disappears. This risk is higher for newly arrived expats without established local networks in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi.

How to spot it
  • - Candidate cannot provide a contactable previous employer reference with a verifiable phone number
  • - No original CNIC (Computerised National Identity Card) copy offered for verification
  • - Request for advance salary exceeding one week before a trial period
  • - Agent's placement fee seems high with no written contract or receipt
What to do: Hire through trusted referrals from verified expat networks, registered agencies or embassy staff networks. Always take a copy of the CNIC. Use a written employment agreement with clear terms. Pay no more than one week's advance before completing a trial period.

Fake charity collection after disaster

info

After floods, earthquakes or other disasters, individuals and social-media accounts collect donations via personal JazzCash or Easypaisa numbers while claiming to represent registered charities or relief organisations. The funds go directly to the collector, not to any genuine relief effort.

How to spot it
  • - Donation destination is a personal mobile wallet number, not a charity bank account
  • - No Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) or Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy registration number provided
  • - Emotional images are recycled from earlier or unrelated disasters
  • - No official receipt or donation confirmation offered
  • - Pressure to donate before you have time to verify the organisation
What to do: Donate only through registered charities such as Edhi Foundation, Akhuwat, or Saylani Welfare — verifiable through SECP or Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (pcp.org.pk). Report fake charity accounts to NCCIA (complaint.nccia.gov.pk).

Phishing SMS impersonating Pakistan Post or FBR

warning

A text or WhatsApp message claims a parcel is held at Pakistan Post or that FBR (tax authority) has initiated a recovery action requiring an immediate payment. The link leads to a fake payment page that harvests card details, CNIC numbers or mobile-wallet credentials.

How to spot it
  • - SMS link does not end in pakpost.gov.pk, fbr.gov.pk or a verifiable courier domain
  • - The "customs release fee" or "tax penalty" is a round amount payable via a short link
  • - Urgent language: consignment destroyed or account frozen unless paid today
  • - No tracking reference matching your actual courier's system
  • - Page asks for CNIC, card number, expiry date, CVV or OTP to complete payment
What to do: Navigate directly to pakpost.gov.pk or fbr.gov.pk and enter any reference number yourself. Never click links in unsolicited SMS or WhatsApp messages. Report phishing to the NCCIA (complaint.nccia.gov.pk, formerly FIA Cybercrime Wing) and PTA (pta.gov.pk).

Reporting

Where to report: National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) — nccia.gov.pk, online complaints at complaint.nccia.gov.pk — replaced FIA Cybercrime Wing as of February 2026 for all cyber and financial fraud. Pakistan Police emergency: 15. State Bank of Pakistan (sbp.org.pk) for banking and mobile-money fraud. PTA (pta.gov.pk) for SIM and telecom fraud.

Consumer helpline: Provincial Consumer Protection Councils handle consumer rights complaints — contact varies by province (Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Balochistan). For financial and digital fraud, the NCCIA helpline at complaint.nccia.gov.pk is the primary route (free, online). JazzCash fraud: 111-124-444. Easypaisa fraud: 0311-1003737.