Uzbekistan Uncovers Fraud Scheme Stealing Over 1 Billion Soums

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Law enforcement authorities in Uzbekistan are investigating a group suspected of stealing more than 1 billion soums from 456 people through a fake website impersonating the government's Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services, my.gov.uz. The information was released by the Cybersecurity Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to the preliminary investigation, the alleged organiser of the scheme is a 33-year-old native of the Khorezm region. The Interior Ministry said he created a fake website resembling the official government services portal and promoted it on Instagram through advertisements claiming that users were eligible for government compensation payments and social benefits. To make the scheme appear credible, the name "Moliya vazirligi" ("Ministry of Finance") was also used.

Users were promised an automatic payment of about 30 million soums to their bank cards. To receive the funds, they were instructed to follow a link, complete an online form and provide their bank card details.

Investigators allege that after obtaining this information, the suspects gained access to victims' bank accounts and stole the funds held in them.

The investigation also found that people aged between 20 and 24 participated in the scheme. According to the Interior Ministry, they obtained and supplied the criminal group with 293 drop cards registered in the names of 26 individuals. The stolen money was first transferred to these cards and was then converted into cryptocurrency for subsequent laundering.

Criminal cases have been opened against the suspects under Articles 168 (Fraud) and 278-6 (Creation, Use or Distribution of Malicious Software) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The investigation is ongoing.