KARACHI: One of Pakistan’s largest payment gateways, 1LINK Limited, has debunked social media rumors about ATMs shutting down for two to three days due to a cyberattack. The rumors, which spread via WhatsApp, claimed that a ransomware attack would disrupt ATM services and urged people to avoid online transactions during this period. It was also falsely reported that BBC Radio had aired this news.
BBC Urdu quickly dismissed these claims, clarifying that their last broadcast in Pakistan was on December 31, 2022, and no recent reports of a cyberattack were made.
In response, 1LINK issued a statement reassuring the public that there is no cyber threat affecting ATMs or online banking. The financial industry, including the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and 1LINK, continues to monitor and protect the country’s financial infrastructure, adhering to strict IT and security protocols.