PTA raided Singapore plaza Rawalpindi in coordination with the NCCIA (National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency). They inspected a mobile phone shop named “City Mobile Phone,” targeting illegal IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) tampering and the sale of cloned and CPID-patched mobile devices. They confiscated a laptop, a CPU, and a mobile phone used in the illegal modification of IMEIs from the shop.
CPID (Client Process Identity) is a technique used to change or modify the IMEI (15-digit serial number) of a mobile phone, especially on Android phones, using software. It allows the phone to operate on a network without PTA registration.
PTA (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority) zonal office Rawalpindi states that they had a “zero-tolerance” policy towards illegal trades and modification of mobile device identifiers, as such activities cause threats to public safety and national security. These modifications can also be useful in cybercrime acts, financial fraud, kidnapping, and other criminal acts.
Furthermore, PTA said that it’s their duty to provide secure mobile communication networks in Pakistan. They appealed to the public to report suspicious activities that are related to mobile phone tampering and cloning. They warned that legal proceedings serve as a deterrent against those involved in such offenses.
