Over the last few years, internet traffic in Pakistan has surged to over 83million internet users. With over 97% of Pakistanislinkaccessingthe internet through their cellphone, this rapid expansion can beattributed to the dissemination of 3G/4G services by significant telecomplayers in Pakistan.
With widespread access to the internet, numbers on social media platformsand e-commerce platforms have multiplied.
The surge in internet traffic has led to a drastic increase in cybercrimes.They vary from phishing attacks to harassment and digital identity theftand cover a myriad of other criminal activities carried out over theinternet through computers or cellphones. We will be narrowing our focus inthis article on three particular types of cybercrimes that pertain tosocial media, the financial ecosystem, and the menace of grey traffic.Social Media Cybercrime
Over the last few years, social media platforms, including Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube, have seen an exponential increase in usagewith over 37 million userslink.inPakistan as of January 2020 – an increase of 7% from the previous year.According to the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), the most reportedcomplaints with regards to social media are hacking, blackmailing, andimpersonation.
Online harassment is another significant issue primarily faced by women.From 2016 through 2019, out of a total number of 5000 complaints, 40% werereported by women. The most-reported platforms were WhatsApp, Facebook, andTwitter. Only 14.2% of women said that they had reached out for help whenthey faced abuse online.Financial Cybercrime
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According to an e-Commerce Indexlinklaunchedby Daraz – one of the largest online marketplace & logistics company inPakistan – in 2019, the platform witnessed a 2X increase in active usersand a 3X increase in orders.
This growth was made possible by a 36% boost in internet penetration in2019. Digital payments contributed 32% of total consumer spending, and theuse of e-wallets increased by 8.2x year-on-year.
