Social Media Scams in Pakistan Target Youth Seeking Viral Fame

By Saleem Mubarak

LAHORE: The race for social media fame is growing fast. Young people, in particular, want their videos and posts to reach larger audiences.

For many, going viral has become a goal in itself.

Social media platforms offer paid promotion tools to help users reach more people. Thousands of rupees are spent on these promotions. Some users spend much more.

This growing demand has also created a market for people selling advertising balances and promotional services.

But it has also opened the door for scammers.

People are now offered Facebook balances, Google Ads balances and TikTok coins at unusually low prices. Such balances can be used to promote posts, videos and other content.

TikTok, in particular, has created a strong desire for quick popularity. The platform has helped many unknown people gain public attention.

But the same popularity has attracted fraudsters who promise cheap TikTok coins.

A suspicious offer

A recent interaction with one such seller showed how these schemes can work.

The seller had advertised TikTok coins at a price that appeared far below the normal market rate.

The Facebook post also carried an unusual challenge. It promised Rs10,000 to anyone who could prove that the seller was a scammer.

A closer look raised questions about the offer.

Instead of simply dismissing the seller, an attempt was made to understand how the operation worked.

The seller introduced himself as Khalid on WhatsApp. His profile displayed an Islamic image.

Like many online sellers, he first tried to build trust.

He assured the potential customer that his service was legitimate and that there would be no problem.

He then asked which package the customer wanted.

A middle-priced package was selected for the conversation.

The important question came next: Could the payment be made after the service was delivered?

The seller appeared uncomfortable with the idea.

When asked about a face-to-face meeting instead, he changed his explanation.

He said he could not meet in person because the coins were obtained through what he called “carding”.

The carding claim

“Carding” generally refers to the illegal use of stolen or compromised payment-card information.

The seller claimed that the TikTok coins were being obtained through such methods.

He said a face-to-face meeting could create problems for him.

He also claimed that he had previously lost Rs1 million after meeting someone in person.

The explanation appeared to serve another purpose: creating fear and discouraging the customer from asking for a safer transaction.

When advance payment was again questioned, the seller asked for a screenshot of the customer’s TikTok account.

A legitimate TikTok account belonging to another person was provided for the test.

The seller used the account and returned a screenshot showing supposed coin packages and purchases.

He then claimed that the account had been successfully linked and asked for payment.

The customer raised another question.

Would buying the coins through this method have any effect on the TikTok account? Could the coins later be removed?

The seller responded confidently.

He assured the customer that there would be no problem and that the account was guaranteed.

He again asked for the payment to be sent quickly.

Pressure to pay

When the customer refused to pay in advance, the tone changed.

The seller questioned the customer’s understanding of the market. He suggested that such questions were wasting his time.

This is one of the common pressure tactics in online fraud.

A potential customer is made to feel that he is being difficult or wasting the seller’s time.

The purpose is simple: push the person towards making a quick payment before he has enough time to verify the offer.

In this case, however, the payment was not made.

The seller was told that there would be no advance payment.

A face-to-face transaction was again offered.

The conversation eventually ended.

The seller did not proceed with the deal.

The attraction of shortcuts

The incident highlights a wider problem.

People want quick results.

They want more views, more followers and more recognition. Many are willing to pay for promotion to achieve these goals.

That demand creates opportunities for legitimate advertising businesses. But it also creates opportunities for fraudsters.

An offer that promises an unusually large benefit for a very small payment should be treated carefully.

The same applies to sellers who refuse normal verification, demand advance payment or use pressure to close a deal quickly.

A social media user may also put an account at risk by using illegally obtained advertising balances or coins.

What appears to be a cheap shortcut can therefore become an expensive problem.

Grow slowly, verify first

There is no guaranteed shortcut to genuine online popularity.

Users who want to promote their content should use official advertising and payment channels whenever possible.

They should also verify the identity and business history of anyone offering promotional services.

Promises of extremely cheap balances should be treated with caution.

Most importantly, users should not allow the desire to go viral to override basic checks.

The internet rewards attention.

Scammers know this.

And as long as people are willing to pay for overnight fame, there will be people ready to sell them shortcuts.

Users who come across suspected online fraud should report it to the relevant authorities and preserve evidence such as screenshots, phone numbers, payment details and messages.

In Pakistan, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is responsible for handling cybercrime complaints. Don’t waste any time—report such scammers to the NCCIA. Your report could help protect innocent people from falling victim to these fraudsters.

The safest rule remains a simple one: Do not let the desire to go viral make you an easy target for fraud.

Author Profile

Saleem Mubarak: Saleem Mubarak is an investigative journalist, passionate writer, and keen observer of everyday life. His work combines humor, realism, and social insight to bring everyday stories to life with depth and clarity.

With a distinctive storytelling style, he brings ordinary moments to life through sharp wit and thoughtful commentary.

His writing often explores cultural trends, civic issues, and human behavior, engaging readers with both intellect and emotion.

Whether tackling serious topics or adding a touch of satire, Saleem’s words reflect his deep understanding of society and his commitment to meaningful expression.