A Bishkek resident transferred nearly $50,000 to scammers via WhatsApp

On November 12, 2025, N. V. filed a fraud complaint with the Internal Affairs Department of the Pervomaisky District of Bishkek. According to her, on November 5, scammers seized her money under the pretext of purchasing an apartment, totaling 49,900 dollars.

According to the police, the funds were transferred to seven different bank accounts. In this regard, the investigative authorities initiated a criminal case under Article 209, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, concerning the intentional transfer or sale of electronic payment means and SIM cards to third parties.

During the investigation, it was established that the victim made transfers through "Optima Bank" payment terminals totaling 3,655,000 soms.

One of the identified recipients was 16-year-old A. B., who received 200,000 soms into his bank card. He was detained and brought to the investigative department of the Internal Affairs Department of the Pervomaisky District of Bishkek, and then placed in the temporary detention facility of the city’s Main Internal Affairs Department in accordance with Article 96 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Currently, investigative actions and operational search activities are ongoing to identify the owners of other accounts, as well as to trace the routes of the funds and identify other accomplices of the crime.