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A 53-year-old hospital cleaner in Petropavl has lost her two-room apartment and a staggering 18 million tenge after falling victim to sophisticated phone scammers. The incident highlights the persistent threat of online fraud in the region.

The woman was reportedly contacted by individuals posing as bank managers. Following their instructions، she transferred her savings and ultimately sold her apartment، handing over the proceeds to the fraudsters. She only realized she had been deceived in early January، after the fraudulent transactions occurred between November and December.

Rising Online Fraud in North Kazakhstan

This case is part of a worrying trend in the North Kazakhstan region. In January alone، 33 cases of internet fraud were registered، with 19 of those involving the common 'bank call' scam. This figure is a significant increase from the previous year، when 49 such cases were recorded throughout the entire year.

Common Scammer Tactics

Scammers often initiate contact with victims under various pretexts، such as needing to replace a دوموفون (intercom)، check utility meters، or discuss appointments at a clinic. They then pressure individuals into revealing SMS verification codes. Once they have this information، they fabricate urgent scenarios، claiming a loan has been taken out in the victim's name or that their apartment is being sold without their knowledge.

To 'protect' their money، victims are then instructed to withdraw their savings، take out loans، or quickly sell their property and transfer the funds to a so-called 'safe account'.

Police Investigation Underway

Authorities are currently investigating the case، which is under the direct supervision of the regional police department leadership. Police are urging residents to remain vigilant and not to fall for these deceptive schemes.

Police Warning to the Public

Law enforcement officials emphasize that a four-digit code received via SMS cannot، by itself، be used to register a loan. However، it can grant cybercriminals access to personal data، enabling them to impersonate officials and build trust. Scammers may even send fake sale agreements via WhatsApp to pressure victims into selling their property.

The police strongly advise citizens to never share SMS codes with anyone، to resist any financial pressure from unknown individuals، and to verify any suspicious information through official channels. If you encounter a dubious situation، contact the police immediately.

This story was reported by Infohub.kz.