Fact-check: Webpage impersonating Dawn circulates false report about 'AI platform'

A webpage mimicking the Dawn Media Group has been circulating a fabricated news report about businessman Arif Habib launching an AI platform. The fake site, operating independently of Dawn.com, falsely claims the "BTC+700 Lurot" platform is part of Pakistan's Digital 2030 vision and has government backing.

The deceptive report also falsely lists Pakistan State Oil, the State Bank of Pakistan, and a non-existent "Pakistan Telecom AI" as key partners. Visuals on the fake page appear AI-generated, featuring illegible Urdu text and logos that do not match official branding for Arif Habib Ltd. The article's format and style also deviate significantly from Dawn's established journalistic standards.

Adding to the deception, the webpage includes an embedded form soliciting readers' mobile phone numbers for the supposed trading platform, accompanied by an "editor's note" endorsing it. This practice is contrary to Dawn's editorial policy, which does not feature embedded forms for third-party services or endorse such platforms. Clicking on any section of the fake website redirects users back to this same deceptive form, highlighting the page's singular focus on luring unsuspecting individuals.