Summary WhatsApp accounts operating on deactivated or recycled mobile numbers had become a major source of cyber fraud
(Web Desk) - Meta has blocked 176,000 WhatsApp accounts registered on recycled mobile numbers following a request from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), as authorities move to curb cyber fraud involving inactive and cancelled SIMs.
According to officials, WhatsApp accounts operating on deactivated or recycled mobile numbers had become a major source of cyber fraud, with complaints emerging about their misuse for fraudulent activities.
PTA officials said Meta shut down the accounts after receiving details from the telecom regulator.
Telecom operators currently hold around 16 million recycled mobile numbers, of which the PTA had shared details of 10 million numbers with Meta.
The PTA and Meta have also agreed on a mechanism to identify and block WhatsApp accounts linked to inactive numbers. Under the arrangement, details of 5,000 recycled mobile numbers will be shared with Meta every month, and accounts associated with these numbers will be blocked in phases.
PTA officials further revealed that Meta resolved 82% of the complaints received last year, reflecting the progress made through cooperation between the regulator and the technology company.
