A 28-year-old man has been detained in Astana on suspicion of online fraud related to visa processing for Turkey. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the victim transferred 600,000 tenge to the suspect but never received the promised service, reports infohub.kz.
The suspect found clients through social media and messaging apps, posing as a reliable intermediary offering assistance in obtaining a Turkish visa.
He convinced one client to pay an advance fee, supposedly for document preparation and visa processing. After receiving the money, he kept delaying the service under various pretexts and eventually stopped responding.
The damage caused to the victim amounted to 600,000 tenge.
The suspect's identity was established during the Hi-Tech operational and preventive measure. He was detained, and a pre-trial investigation is currently underway.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs warns: "Before transferring an advance payment for visa processing, employment, or other paid services, it is necessary to verify the legality and reliability of the service provider."
The police recommend not transferring money to dubious intermediaries online, but rather contacting official organizations and licensed agencies.
Earlier, Kursiv reported on the difficulties Kazakhstani citizens face when obtaining a US visa. The adjusted refusal rate for tourist and business visas reaches 51.75%, and the average wait time for an interview is about 45 days in Almaty and up to 90 days in Astana. The consular fee is $185. Moreover, attempting to increase visa chances with fake documents, fictitious bookings, or hiding previous refusals can result in a multi-year ban on entering the US.