Kazakhstan's National Bank has warned of a multi-stage scam in which fraudsters frighten citizens with loans and digital powers of attorney issued in their names, reports infohub.kz.
The scammers send Kazakhstanis messages purportedly from the digital government service for citizens or second-tier banks. The messages claim that a "digital power of attorney" has been issued in the recipient's name and is already being used by strangers, or that a loan has been approved. To sort out the situation, the person is urged to call the number provided. This is where the multi-stage scam begins, the National Bank warns.
"The main goal of such messages is to cause alarm and prompt the person to call the number provided on their own. During the conversation, the fraudsters suggest they 'cancel the power of attorney,' 'block the loan application' or 'protect the funds.'
The scammers may then pose as employees of the National Bank, special government or law enforcement agencies and claim that unlawful actions are being committed in the citizen's name: loans are being issued, companies registered, suspicious financial transactions conducted, or attempts made to steal funds.
Under the pretext of preventing such actions, the citizen is persuaded to share an SMS code, provide card details or bank card data, install a mobile application, transfer money to a so-called 'safe,' 'reserve' or 'savings' account, or grant remote access to their mobile device," the statement says.
The National Bank says that employees of banks, special government and law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan do not request bank card data, SMS codes, PIN codes for cards or applications, do not suggest transferring money to so-called 'safe accounts,' and do not ask to install applications for remote access to a mobile device.
"If you receive such messages, you should not call back the numbers provided, follow links or carry out instructions from unknown persons. To verify the information, you should contact the official Contact Center of the relevant bank or the digital government service for citizens.
We remind you that National Bank employees do not make audio or video calls, do not service individuals' accounts, do not offer to invest money in mutual investment funds or other financial products, do not provide money insurance, and do not conduct monetary settlements with the public.
If you have encountered fraudulent actions, we strongly recommend filing a corresponding statement with the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan. For consultation, you can contact the National Bank's Contact Center at the short number 1477," the National Bank added.