Courts in the Aktobe Region have handed down three convictions in cases involving the unlawful receipt of social benefits, while Aktobe Court No. 2 is hearing four more criminal cases. The news was reported by Nurlan Kuzeuov, head of the Aktobe branch of the State Social Insurance Fund, according to infohub.kz.
According to Kuzeuov, advertisements from intermediaries regularly appear on social media, promising — for a fee — to help people apply for benefits, including unemployment payments.
The State Social Insurance Fund has already uncovered cases in which fictitious employment relationships were created in order to obtain social benefits.
"The fund itself has repeatedly identified instances of fictitious employment relationships being formed. If a case of unlawful receipt of social benefits is detected, the funds paid out may be recovered in accordance with the established procedure. Deliberately providing knowingly false information in order to obtain a benefit may be classified as fraud," Kuzeuov said.
Last year, three convictions were handed down in the Aktobe Region in such cases. Four more criminal cases are currently being heard by Aktobe Court No. 2.
As Kuzeuov noted, investigations revealed that some citizens had found advertisements for such services on Instagram and other social networks, where they were offered schemes for obtaining benefits.
Social benefits obtained unlawfully may be subject to recovery. If a person deliberately provided false information when applying, their actions may be classified as fraud.
The State Social Insurance Fund also warned that so-called "helpers" may request ID card and bank card details, SMS codes, electronic digital signature information and other confidential data.
The fund stressed that there is no need to pay intermediaries to apply for social benefits. The decision to award payments is made only in accordance with the procedure established by the Social Code.