Man Arrested in Uzbekistan for Fraudulently Collecting Online “Donations for Sick Children”

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Law enforcement authorities have detained a man who was fraudulently collecting donations online under the guise of charitable fundraising for sick children. He used genuine photographs of minors who had previously been ill but had already recovered, and kept all the funds for himself.

According to the press service of the Jizzakh Regional Department of Internal Affairs, the scheme was uncovered after a father noticed photos of his child being used in an online fundraising post, even though the child had already recovered. He reported the misuse of personal data to the authorities, requesting that the perpetrators be identified and stopped.

During the investigation, the suspect was identified as a 26-year-old resident of Tashkent Region. The investigation revealed that he posted appeals for donations under the names of parents of previously ill children, providing the details of his own bank cards to receive payments from unsuspecting donors.

A criminal case has been initiated under Part 3 of Article 168 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan — fraud using information technology. Investigative actions are ongoing.

Under this article, the suspect faces a fine of 300–400 base calculation units (approximately 123–164 million soums), corrective labor for two to three years, or imprisonment for five to eight years.

Authorities have urged citizens to exercise caution and carefully verify information before responding to charitable appeals, especially those posted on social networks and online platforms.