Kazakhstan's Prosecutor General's Office has warned citizens about a new online fraud scheme in which criminals impersonate employees of the eGov service. Nearly 30 such cases have been recorded in the past month alone, according to infohub.kz.
According to the supervisory authority, during the call the scammers tell the person that an electronic digital signature is allegedly being issued in their name or that other actions are being taken. Accomplices then join the conversation and, under the pretext of preventing the fraudulent issuance of loans, persuade victims to transfer money to accounts they specify.
The Prosecutor General's Office cited a specific example. A resident of Taraz received a call from an unknown person claiming to be an "eGov" employee, who said an electronic digital signature had been issued in her name. Later, other individuals contacted her via WhatsApp, claiming that loans had allegedly been taken out in her name at seven banks. Falling for the scammers' tricks, the woman transferred more than 2 million tenge to third-party accounts. A pre-trial investigation is underway into the case.
The Prosecutor General's Office urges Kazakhstanis to remain vigilant. "Employees of government agencies and services do not demand over the phone that money be transferred, loans be taken out, or funds be sent to 'safe accounts.' Do not share SMS codes, passwords, bank card details, or electronic digital signatures with strangers, and do not transfer money on the instructions of unknown individuals. If you receive a suspicious call, end the conversation and contact the relevant government agency or bank yourself through official communication channels," the supervisory authority added.