The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a clarification denying any connection to a cybersecurity warning currently spreading across social media platforms under its name. The regulator confirmed it never released such a notice and labeled the circulating content false and misleading.

The fabricated alert, designed to look official with PTA’s branding, singles out the number (051) 7080507 and warns people against following any voice prompts if they receive a call from it. It claims that simply answering the call is enough to compromise data stored on a phone, along with linked accounts such as Easypaisa.

Adding to the confusion, the hoax message insists scammers wouldn’t even need to ask for a one-time password (OTP) — instead claiming that some kind of hidden software tied to the number can extract personal data automatically once the call connects.

The post goes further, alleging that fraudsters need just five to seven seconds on the line to pull off the theft, and it encourages readers to pass the warning along to friends and relatives — a common tactic used to make misinformation spread faster.

In its official response, PTA stated plainly that it has no association with this notification and reiterated that the claims are baseless. The authority is urging citizens to stop forwarding unverified posts and to instead check its verified social media channels for legitimate cybersecurity updates and alerts.