News & Events

Karachi School of Business & Leadership (KSBL), in collaboration with JazzCash and Mobilink Bank, recently hosted the Scam Awareness Media Competition, a nationwide initiative that celebrated powerful journalism and digital storytelling on financial scams and online safety.

Held at KSBL’s Karachi campus, the competition brought together journalists, bloggers, YouTubers and digital content creators from across Pakistan. The core objective was to transform awareness into action by encouraging stories that uncover scams, empower communities and promote responsible digital behaviour.

Objectives of the Competition
The Scam Awareness Media Competition was designed to highlight the growing threat of financial and digital scams in Pakistan’s rapidly evolving fintech and online ecosystem. It aimed to encourage investigative and explanatory journalism that makes complex fraud schemes understandable for everyday users, and to give a platform to content creators who use digital media to educate audiences and support safer financial choices. A further objective was to strengthen collaboration between academia, regulators, media and industry in order to build a more secure and informed digital economy.

Entries were accepted under three key themes that reflect Pakistan’s changing fraud landscape: Investment and Multi-Level Marketing Scams, Impersonation Scams, and SMS and Parcel Delivery Scams.

Recognising Outstanding Storytelling
The competition received strong participation from leading news outlets and digital platforms. Shortlisted entries included in-depth reports and multimedia stories that examined crypto frauds, fake trading apps, “digital arrest” schemes, parcel scams, cybercrime trends and the specific ways women are targeted and silenced online. Together, these works mapped how scams affect individuals, families and the wider economy.

After a rigorous review process, the jury announced the following results.

Winner

Fatima Attarwala – DAWN.com
Story: “How Pakistan’s Crypto Craze Has Made It a Scammer’s Paradise”

Attarwala’s investigation was recognised for its depth of analysis and public impact. Her piece explains how Pakistan’s unregulated crypto boom has enabled fraudsters to exploit public fascination with digital currencies, leading to significant financial losses for unsuspecting investors.

Runner-Up
Team Raftar – Raftar TV (YouTube)
Story: “How Binomo, Trading Apps & Influencers Looted Billions with Fake Promises”
The Raftar TV team was honoured for a compelling video exposé that unpacks how online trading apps and misleading influencer promotions drew in everyday Pakistanis with promises of quick returns, only to wipe out their savings.

Prizes and Acknowledgement
To recognise their contribution to public awareness, the winners received an iPhone 17 (Winner) and an iPad Air M3 (Runner-up), sponsored by JazzCash and Mobilink Bank. All shortlisted creators were acknowledged for using their platforms responsibly by bringing real scam stories to light, amplifying the voices of victims and helping Pakistanis recognise warning signs before it is too late.

Participants and Impact
Participants in the competition represented national and regional newsrooms, digital-first platforms and YouTube channels, technology and business publications and independent bloggers and storytellers. Their work collectively highlighted Pakistan’s evolving fraud ecosystem, from crypto and investment cons to SMS and parcel schemes, and from impersonation and “digital arrest” scams to the particular vulnerabilities faced by women online. These stories have contributed to a richer public conversation on financial literacy, cyber hygiene and digital rights.

Appreciation for Collaborators and Patrons
KSBL extends its sincere appreciation to JazzCash and Mobilink Bank for partnering on this initiative and for their continued commitment to safe, inclusive digital finance.
Special thanks are also due to the competition’s patrons and supporting organisations, whose guidance and presence underscored the national importance of scam awareness: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Pakistan Banks’ Association (PBA), Jamapunji, Karandaaz, GSMA, Geo News and other partners who champion consumer protection and financial education.
KSBL also acknowledges the contributions of industry leaders and experts who supported and amplified the competition, including Khayam Siddiqi, Jazil Mehmood Butt, Khurram Ali Mehran, Murtaza Abbas, Azhar Abbas, Samia Salik, Bensen Koh, Zafar Masud, Mir Nejib Rahman, Muneer Kamal and Hafsa Khatib for their continued advocacy of integrity and transparency in the financial system.

By spotlighting impactful journalism and responsible content creation, the Scam Awareness Media Competition reflects KSBL’s broader mission to nurture ethical leaders and informed citizens who can navigate and safeguard Pakistan’s digital future.