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A criminal case involving popular bloggers Ерболат Жанабылов and Эльмира Төлегенова is currently being heard in an Astana court. Prosecutors have revealed details of an alleged elaborate scam designed to defraud citizens, with the accused reportedly planning to amass over 200 million tenge (approximately $430,000 USD).

The Deceptive Course Scheme

According to investigative findings presented in court, the bloggers allegedly crafted a criminal plan in 2025 to generate substantial income. They offered video courses priced at 30,000 tenge each, which investigators claim held no educational or economic value. Alarmingly, these materials were reportedly re-published content previously released on other platforms.

Lottery as a Cover for Fraud

The prosecution detailed how these courses were allegedly used to funnel participants into unauthorized prize draws, effectively masking a lottery operation. The terms and conditions for this lottery were reportedly developed under the guise of selling educational content. The lottery was slated to run for four months, from August 21 to December 31, 2025.

The advertised prizes included 10 Hyundai cars, iPhones, and cash rewards ranging from 5,000 to 2 million tenge, with a total prize pool exceeding 200 million tenge. The projected revenue from course sales alone was close to 487 million tenge.

Substantial Profits Alleged

The prosecutor stated that 16,249 individuals participated in the promotion, each paying the 30,000 tenge course fee. This would have resulted in a net profit of over 200 million tenge for the accused, even before accounting for any expenses.

Misleading Advertising and Prize Manipulation

The indictment accuses Жанабылов of disseminating false information about the chances of winning vehicles, misleading consumers. The agreement, in reality, was limited to the sale of online courses. Prize draws were conducted through private Instagram accounts, bypassing any official corporate website or legal entity representation.

As Жанабылов and Төлегенова operated their Instagram accounts as individuals, they were acting as private entrepreneurs. The prosecution highlighted the absence of any contractual agreements regulating the promotional activities between the accused. To conceal the true organizer, formal service agreements were allegedly made between private entrepreneurs, and promotional campaigns were conducted under Жанабылов's personal name, not a registered legal entity.

Low Odds of Winning

State prosecutor Olzhas Khairullaev pointed out that while promotional videos depicted a spinning drum for prize selection, the actual probability of winning a car was significantly lower than suggested. Investigations also revealed that the draw mechanism was altered during the process, with the odds of winning smaller prizes, like 5,000 tenge, being disproportionately higher.

The prosecution concluded that these modifications to the draw mechanism were deliberate, aimed at manipulating the results, and that the accused understood the consequences of their actions.