PTA, Meta Block 176,000 WhatsApp Accounts on Recycled SIMs

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked 176,000 WhatsApp accounts linked to recycled mobile numbers. Meta carried out the blocking at PTA’s request. The move targets cyber fraud carried out through old, cancelled SIM numbers.

PTA had received complaints about fraud linked to WhatsApp accounts on inactive numbers. When a person cancels their SIM, the old number often gets reissued to a new customer. But the WhatsApp account on that number can stay active. This lets the account be misused for scams.

PTA shared around 10 million recycled numbers with Meta for checking. Meta then blocked WhatsApp accounts tied to numbers flagged as a risk.

PTA and Meta have agreed on a monthly process. PTA will send 5,000 recycled numbers to Meta every month. Meta will check these numbers and block the linked WhatsApp accounts in phases.

This is not a one-time clean-up. It is meant to run on an ongoing basis.