In Kyrgyzstan, the activities of a group engaged in activating accounts in popular messengers "WhatsApp," "Telegram," and "Lalafo" have been disrupted. Members of this group also recruited citizens to sell their bank cards, acting as so-called "drop points." This information was provided by the State National Security Committee (GKNB) of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Accounts and bank cards obtained in this manner were sold to international fraudsters via the "Telegram" messenger. These "scammers" used them to conduct voice phishing operations aimed at deceiving citizens and stealing their funds.
In particular, the so-called "phone fraudsters" posed as employees of the GKNB and workers of the National Bank, as well as other government officials. They called citizens, accusing them of connections with terrorist organizations and threatening criminal prosecution for financing terrorism.
This criminal group also sent fake letters with accusations against the victims, using counterfeit letterheads and signatures in the name of the GKNB.
As a result of operational measures carried out by GKNB employees, the following individuals were detained:
— "A.B.N.", born on 19.02.2008, (detained in IK-14 in the village of Voznesenovka, Panfilov District for two months);
— "A.E.K.", born on 09.07.2006, (placed in SIZO-1 in Bishkek for two months);
— "R.Sh.K.", born on 22.05.1999, (previously repeatedly prosecuted under Article 204 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic "fraud"), (placed in GKNB SIZO for two months);
— "Zh.K.R.", born on 12.11.2001, (also previously convicted under Articles 201 "robbery," 209 "fraud," 200 "theft" of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, etc.), (placed in GKNB SIZO for two months);
— "T.B.Sh.", born on 12.02.2009, (released under parental obligations);
— "A.u.S.", born on 30.04.2004, (previously convicted under Article 130 "murder," charged as an accused under Article 204 "fraud" of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic), (placed in GKNB SIZO for two months);
— "A.A.A.", born on 24.09.2008, (released under parental obligations);
— "K.I.", born on 18.07.2009, (released under parental obligations);
— "Dzh.S.A.", born on 01.06.1996, (placed in SIZO-1 in Bishkek for two months).
Currently, the GKNB continues its investigation and operational actions aimed at identifying other accomplices of phone fraudsters in the country and their subsequent prosecution.
The GKNB strongly warns against the transfer or sale of messenger accounts and bank cards to third parties outside the country. Such actions may be classified as complicity in fraud and other crimes, which entails criminal liability.
