Syed Saif Ul Hassan 
Oct 11, 2025
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has warned citizens about fraudulent bank impersonation schemes carried out via calls and messages.
These scams mostly involve fraudsters impersonating bank representatives and asking for sensitive information like one-time passwords (OTPs), PINs, and passwords under the guise of account verification.
The central bank cautioned that the primary goal of these scammers is to access mobile banking and steal money.
It was emphasised that banks will never request sensitive information via phone calls or text messages. “Be calm and do not trust any immediate request,” the SBP advises.
Bank customers who receive suspicious calls should verify the information through their bank’s official helpline or by visiting a nearby branch. If someone falls prey to such a scam, they should immediately inform their bank and report the fraudulent number.
Besides warning of bank fraudsters, the SBP clarified recent social media reports about a two-hour cooling period for digital funds transfers. The central bank confirmed that all digital transfers occur in real-time, with funds credited almost instantly.
Nevertheless, this cooling period applies only to branchless banking accounts, restricting the use or withdrawal of funds during that time.
While funds are transferred immediately, withdrawals and online transactions remain suspended for two hours.
