The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reported that over 13,000 malicious web links have been taken down this year in a sweeping crackdown on online scams targeting Pakistani internet users.
According to PTA’s latest update, a total of 13,185 URLs linked to fraudulent activities were blocked by July 21, 2025. The action came after the authority received public complaints about cyber frauds carried out through popular social media platforms.
The report shows that social media giants, including Facebook, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, complied with almost 99% of PTA’s takedown requests. Facebook removed 1,246 of the 1,357 flagged URLs, while YouTube blocked 99 out of 122, with another eight pending review.
PTA said it worked closely with these platforms to ensure rapid removal of harmful content that posed risks to Pakistani users. The authority has also urged citizens to stay alert, avoid clicking suspicious links, and report any scam attempts immediately.
