Beware of fake HEC verification calls targeting medical professionals

KARACHI: Dental and medical professionals are being targeted by scammers impersonating officials from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. These fraudsters are attempting to extract sensitive information under the guise of degree re-verification for a newly "launched portal."
A recent incident involved a professional who received a call from an individual claiming to be an HEC officer. The caller insisted that previously verified degrees needed re-verification due to outdated records. To proceed, the scammer sent a code via SMS and pressured the recipient to input it into their phone. Upon refusal, the fraudster threatened to freeze the recipient’s academic credentials and abruptly ended the call.
Suspicious of the interaction, the professional contacted the HEC’s Islamabad office, where officials denied any such procedure or portal, confirming the call was a scam. Experts warn that feeding codes or sharing personal information with such callers could compromise sensitive data, including bank accounts, email passwords, and other private details.
This alarming trend of fraudulent calls has specifically targeted individuals in the medical and dental communities, who often rely on verified credentials for professional practice and career advancements.
Protect Yourself:
  - HEC has not announced any new portal or re-verification process.
  - Do not share personal information, degree details, or OTP codes with unknown callers.
  - Verify any claims directly with the HEC through official channels.
  - Report such incidents to local authorities or the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing.
The HEC has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the academic credentials of professionals and urged the public to remain vigilant.