According to the agency, the group was engaged in the mass activation of accounts in the messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as on the Lalafo platform, using SIM cards belonging to local operators. In addition, they organized the purchase of bank cards from citizens through so-called droppers.
Special services found that all these accounts and cards were subsequently sold to international scammers via Telegram, who used them for voice phishing—deceiving citizens to gain access to their finances.
The scammers posed as representatives of the SCNS, the National Bank, and other government agencies, accusing people of "financing terrorism" and threatening them with criminal cases. Victims received fake letters allegedly sent from the leadership of the state committee, on counterfeit letterheads with signatures.
During the investigation, the following individuals were detained and placed in custody:
- A.B.N., born in 2008, held in IK-14 under custody for two months;
- A.E.K., born in 2006, placed in the pre-trial detention center (SIZO-1) in Bishkek;
- R.Sh.K., born in 1999, previously convicted for fraud, in SIZO of the SCNS;
- Zh.K.R., born in 2001, with previous convictions for robbery, theft, and fraud, also in SIZO of the SCNS;
- T.B.Sh., born in 2009, handed over to parental custody;
- A. u. S., born in 2004, previously involved in cases of "Murder" and "Fraud," in SIZO of the SCNS;
- A.A.A., born in 2008, released under parental responsibility;
- K.I., born in 2009, also released under parental responsibility;
- Dzh.S.A., born in 1996, placed in SIZO-1 Bishkek.
The investigation is ongoing. The SCNS is actively searching for other participants in this scheme.
Special services remind that transferring or selling your SIM cards, accounts in messaging apps, and bank cards to third parties can lead to criminal liability. In some cases, such actions may be classified as complicity in fraud.
