In Kyrgyzstan, the illegal activities of a group of individuals who were engaged in activating accounts in mobile messengers "WhatsApp," "Telegram," and "Lalafo" using numbers from the country's cellular operators have been halted. It was also revealed that they were attracting local residents to sell their bank cards, acting as so-called "droppers." This information was provided by the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of Kyrgyzstan.
The obtained accounts and bank cards were then resold to international fraudsters known as "scammers" via the "Telegram" messenger. These fraudsters used voice phishing methods to deceive citizens and seize their funds.
In particular, the so-called "phone scammers" posed as employees of the SCNS of Kyrgyzstan and workers of the National Bank, as well as other government officials. They called people, accusing them of connections with terrorist organizations and threatening them with criminal prosecution for financing these groups.
Additionally, the criminal group sent letters to victims with false accusations of involvement in financing terrorists, using counterfeit forms and signatures on behalf of the SCNS.
As a result of operational measures conducted by SCNS employees, the following individuals were detained:
— "A.B.N.," born 19.02.2008 (detained in IK-14 in the village of Voznesenovka, Panfilov District, Chui Region for two months);
— "A.E.K.," born 09.07.2006 (placed in SIZO-1 in Bishkek for two months);
— "R.Sh.K.," born 22.05.1999 (previously convicted multiple times under Article 204 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic "fraud"), (placed in SCNS SIZO for two months);
— "Zh.K.R.," born 12.11.2001 (previously convicted multiple times, charged under Articles 201 "robbery," 209 "fraud," 200 "theft" of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, etc.), (placed in SCNS SIZO for two months);
— "T.B.Sh.," born 12.02.2009 (released under parental obligations);
— "A.u.S.," born 30.04.2004 (previously convicted under Article 130 "murder," charged as a defendant under Article 204 "fraud"), (placed in SCNS SIZO for two months);
— "A.A.A.," born 24.09.2008 (released under parental obligations);
— "K.I.," born 18.07.2009 (released under parental obligations);
— "Dzh.S.A.," born 01.06.1996 (placed in SIZO-1 in Bishkek for two months).
The SCNS is currently continuing investigative and operational activities to identify other accomplices of the phone scammers in Kyrgyzstan with the aim of bringing them to criminal responsibility.
The State Committee for National Security reminds that it is unacceptable to transfer or sell accounts of mobile messengers and bank cards to third parties outside the country, as such actions may be considered complicity in fraud and may lead to criminal liability.
