Fraudsters using deepfakes have become the pinnacle of criminal skill, but their schemes are far from the only ones. Here are the most sophisticated methods of deception in Kazakhstan.

Fake Online Stores

A Kazakhstani woman decided to rent out her Instagram store. She quickly found a client, the alleged owner of a successful store with 90, 000 subscribers. After the transaction, she received the money, and the scammer got access to the account. But soon Kaspi reported that the store was blocked, and customers were complaining about the lack of goods. The fraudster, who earned 6.5 million tenge, disappeared, and the police were powerless.

Instead of Help, Car Theft

Sports journalist Nazerke Sultanbek was looking for help in moving the car from Almaty to Astana. Everything went according to plan until the intermediary reported that the car had broken down, and then stated that it had been stolen, demanding 2 million tenge for its return. The police couldn’t help because the documents were fake.

Free Vision Examination – Deception with Massage Capes

Elderly Pavlodar residents were offered a free examination by an optometrist, but instead they were taken to a restaurant where “doctors” tried to sell massage capes for 1.4 million tenge. The scammers did not have time to complete the operation, as the police intervened.

Fake Interpol Photos

Kazakhstanis were shown a photo of President Tokayev with the UN Secretary General and a signature stating that the victims of fraudsters will get their money back. However, in reality it was just a fake announcement with a photo taken at the UN session in 2019.

Salary for Likes — with Tricks

In messenger there comes an offer from a fake recruiter promising payment for likes and reviews. But then the tasks become more complicated, and you need to send money to the fraudsters’ account. The promised compensation is not received, and the lost funds are not refunded.

Fake Visas to India

Scammers are selling fake online visas to India. Websites that look like real ones deceive people by taking money but not providing visas. It is better to contact the official consulates.

Sugar Fraud

During the panic due to a possible sugar shortage in 2022, a woman from Shakhtinsk paid 400 thousand tenge to a fraudster who blocked her after receiving the money. She immediately contacted the police, but did not receive the goods.

SIM Card Fraud

The attackers, posing as employees of mobile operators, warn of the need to extend the validity of the SIM card in order to get money and access to linked services. Such an exchange can only be made at the operator’s office.

Trap with Suspicious Links

Scammers provoke people to click on a link allegedly posted in response to their comments on social networks. By clicking on such a link, hackers can gain access to personal information.

Exchanging Apples for a Phone

In Zhambyl Region, an elderly man exchanged an iPhone from a five-year-old girl for an ordinary apple worth 132 thousand tenge. The scammer was soon found and returned the phone.

Source of information:

https://digitalbusiness.kz/2025-01-08/ulovkimoshennikovvkazakhstane/