A resident of Astana has been found guilty of fraud for using TikTok to lure Kazakhstani citizens with promises of jobs in England, scamming 10 people out of more than 1 million tenge, reports infohub.kz.
According to the investigation, the man posted advertisements on TikTok offering to help Kazakhstani citizens find work in England. The capital's prosecutor's office stated that during correspondence with potential clients, he created the impression of legitimate activity: providing consultations, sending application forms, and guiding them through the documentation process. He then convinced the victims to transfer money as payment for his alleged employment services.
After receiving the money, he failed to fulfill his obligations and used the stolen funds for his own purposes. Ten citizens fell victim to the scheme, with total material damages exceeding 1 million tenge, the Astana supervisory authority noted.
During the trial, the capital's prosecutor's office supported the state prosecution. The defendant's guilt was fully established by the evidence examined in court. In sentencing, the court took into account his guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions, and voluntary compensation of the material damages.
The court sentenced the man to 3 years and 6 months of restricted freedom with probation supervision. Additionally, the convict is subject to several obligations: he is prohibited from changing his residence or job without notifying the probation service, and from visiting entertainment venues associated with alcohol consumption, including cafes, bars, and restaurants. If unemployed, he must register as unemployed. The court also imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. If the convict does not have a permanent job or studies, he will be required to perform 100 hours of community service annually throughout his sentence.
The capital's prosecutor's office urged citizens to exercise caution when seeking employment abroad. The agency recommends obtaining job information only from official sources, contacting licensed recruitment agencies, and using services of authorized state bodies to avoid becoming victims of fraud.