Passport Scam Alert: Fraudsters Hijacking Google Maps Listing of Islamabad Passport Office to Steal Money

Islamabad — A simple Google search could be costing Pakistani citizens thousands of rupees.

A fraudster has infiltrated the Google Maps listing of the Regional Passport Office in G-10, Islamabad — embedding a fake phone number and personal email address where official government contact details should appear. Citizens who call that number are not reaching a government official. They are reaching a scammer who is walking them through a fabricated process and demanding payment through JazzCash and private bank accounts.

Authorities have issued a formal public advisory. The warning is direct: verify before you call, and never pay through unofficial channels.

A Scam Designed to Look Legitimate

According to Beyond Time News, the fraud works because it is nearly invisible. When someone searches for the passport office online, the manipulated Google Maps listing appears — complete with what looks like valid contact information. Nothing signals danger. The listing looks official because it sits exactly where the real one should.

Once contact is made, the scammer takes over — guiding victims through convincing but entirely fake procedures, creating urgency, and ultimately demanding payment for services that either do not exist or are available free of charge through proper government channels.

The use of JazzCash — a mainstream, widely trusted mobile payment platform — makes the transaction feel routine. By the time victims realise something is wrong, the money is already gone.

One Number. One Source. Nothing Else.

Officials have been unambiguous in their guidance. Every passport-related query, application update, or request for assistance must go through one channel only — the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP) official helpline:

📞 051-111-344-777

Any contact detail encountered on Google Maps, WhatsApp, Facebook, or any platform other than the official DGIP website should be considered unverified and potentially fraudulent. Do not share your CNIC, personal documents, or banking information with any source you have not independently confirmed as official.

If you have already made a payment or shared sensitive information, contact the FIA Cybercrime Wing immediately and preserve all records of communication as evidence.

Why This Scam Is Appearing Now

The timing is not accidental. Pakistan’s passport services are currently undergoing their most significant reform in years — and scammers are exploiting the confusion that comes with change.

According to Beyond Time News, Director General of Immigration and Passports Muhammad Ali Randhawa recently announced that passports will be delivered directly to citizens’ homes starting July 1 — a landmark shift aimed at eliminating the long queues and repeated office visits that have frustrated applicants for years.

During a hands-on inspection tour, the DG personally met with citizens at passport offices, listened to complaints, and directed officials to resolve grievances on the spot. The home delivery decision was a direct outcome of that engagement — a genuine attempt to modernise a system long overdue for change.

But every reform creates a window of uncertainty. Citizens unfamiliar with new procedures are more likely to search online for guidance. Scammers know this — and they position themselves precisely in that gap between confusion and clarity.

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Protect Yourself: What To Do Right Now

If you or someone you know needs passport services, follow these steps without exception:

• Call only the DGIP official helpline: 051-111-344-777
• Never pay for passport services through JazzCash, Easypaisa, or any private bank account
• Never share your CNIC, passport details, or documents with unverified contacts
• Report fake listings on Google Maps by selecting “Suggest an edit” or “Report a problem”
• Report fraud to the FIA Cybercrime Wing if you have already been targeted

Staying one step ahead of this scam requires nothing more than one simple habit: always verify before you act.

FAQs

1. How did a scammer get into the passport office’s Google Maps listing? Google Maps allows users to suggest edits to business listings, a feature the fraudster exploited to insert personal contact details into the official passport office location. The listing appears legitimate at a glance, making it easy to deceive unsuspecting citizens.

2. What is the only safe way to contact the passport office? Use the DGIP official helpline exclusively: 051-111-344-777. Do not rely on any contact information found through Google Maps, social media, or third-party websites.

3. I already paid. What should I do? Contact the FIA Cybercrime Wing immediately. Also notify your bank or JazzCash to attempt a transaction reversal. Save all messages, call logs, and payment receipts as evidence for your complaint.

4. What is the new passport home delivery service? Beginning July 1, the DGIP will deliver completed passports directly to applicants’ homes across Pakistan, removing the need for multiple office visits and significantly reducing waiting times.

5. How do I report a fake Google Maps listing? Open the listing on Google Maps, tap “Suggest an edit” or “Report a problem,” and flag the false information. You may also report it through Google’s official business support portal for faster action.

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