An investigation is underway in Almaty into fraud committed under the guise of issuing microloans in cryptocurrency through an online resource. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
According to the financial monitoring agency, borrowers were actively attracted through social media, where advertisements about loans on favorable terms were widely distributed.
To obtain a loan, citizens were required to undergo identity verification, provide personal data, and sign electronic documents. However, after these procedures were completed, the actual terms of the transaction differed significantly from those initially stated.
The agency noted that borrowers received amounts much smaller than promised, with part of the funds withheld as undisclosed commissions and other payments. Additionally, before the transaction, full information about the total cost of the loan, overpayment amount, interest, and penalties was not provided.
Funds were returned through bank cards of third parties, so-called droppers. A branched infrastructure, including legal entities, telecommunications resources, and technical means, was used to support the online resource and communicate with borrowers.
During searches, SIM boxes used for mass SMS distribution and a large number of SIM cards were seized. The investigation is ongoing.