Customs Evasion Leads to Fake Electronics and Vehicles Sales in Pakistan

Islamabad:In several regions of Pakistan, certain goods are being sold at significantly lower prices due to customs duties not being paid. This happens when goods are brought into the country illegally, and consequently, no taxes are applied to them, making the transactions illegal. This is why individuals looking to buy expensive electronic products or imported cars at cheaper prices often turn to illegal means, such as non-customs paid (NCP) items, which are in high demand.

While the true nature of these items may become apparent at the border areas, fraudsters have taken advantage of the demand by using social media platforms. On Facebook, for instance, pictures or videos of vehicles and expensive items, including mobile phones, are posted to attract buyers.

A resident of Karachi, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told V News that he had joined a Facebook group where posts for non-customs paid mobile phones, laptops, and other items were being made at very low prices. He shared that one of the posts featured a Samsung S23 Ultra mobile phone, which has an actual market price of over 300,000 PKR, but the advertised price in the group was only 15,000 PKR.

The resident continued to explain that when he inquired further, he was directed to a WhatsApp group where he would receive more such offers. After joining the group, reviews from other members started pouring in, with people thanking the seller for receiving their products and occasionally posting dispatch pictures of their orders.

According to the citizen, when he tried to place an order for the Samsung S23 Ultra, he was told that the original price was 15,000 PKR, but since he was a new customer, he would need to pay only half of that, 7,500 PKR. After transferring the required amount via JazzCash, he sent the screenshot of the payment. The seller thanked him and assured that his product would arrive within 24 hours.

However, two days later, when the product hadn’t arrived, the citizen inquired, only to be blocked by the seller. At this point, he realized it had been a fraud, but it was too late to recover the money.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has stated that tracking such cases is difficult, as often the person involved is not the one whose number is used for the transactions. The FIA urges anyone who faces such a fraud to file a complaint with them, along with all relevant evidence. An online platform is available for filing complaints, and the FIA is continuously working to take action against such scams. Filing a complaint can sometimes lead to the resolution of the case and compensation for the affected individual.