Foreigners entering Kazakhstan for the first time face criminal liability for transferring bank cards and accounts to third parties, reports infohub.kz.
Under the country's legislation, transferring bank cards, accounts, payment instruments, and identification means to others is prohibited and may result in punishment under Article 232-1 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan.
The Department of State Revenues for Mangistau Region noted that special attention is paid to foreigners crossing the border for the first time. The department has identified cases where such individuals, after obtaining an IIN, opened bank accounts and issued cards, then transferred them to other people or rented them out for a fee. Subsequently, these accounts and cards were used for online fraud and other illegal financial operations.
Analysis showed that first-time arrivals to Kazakhstan are most often the source of transferring bank details to third parties. In this regard, informational and preventive work has been organized at customs checkpoints: foreigners are warned about the ban on transferring banking instruments and the possible consequences.
The department recommends not to give bank cards, accounts, and mobile banking access data to strangers, and not to agree to offers to "rent out" an account or card, even if a reward is promised. If suspicious offers are received, contact law enforcement or the bank's hotline.
Earlier, the police warned about a new fraud scheme involving SMS bombing, and changes for businesses and citizens were reported in connection with the introduction of the digital tenge.