In Kazakhstan, there has been an increase in fake calls claiming that the electronic digital signature (EDS) has expired. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
According to Sputnik Kazakhstan, citing the official website of JSC "National Information Technologies," scammers offer to extend or reissue the electronic digital signature. They then ask to confirm the operation with a code received via SMS.
How the Scam Works
The official statement says that often the first call is only part of the fraudulent scheme. Its purpose is to create anxiety and gain the citizen's trust. After that, a second scammer, posing as a "security officer," may call. He claims there is some threat and tries to gain access to personal data, SMS codes, or the user's device.
Expert Advice
Company experts advise not to panic if you have already disclosed an SMS code or EDS data to scammers. Receiving an SMS code alone does not allow reissuing the EDS or obtaining a loan. Such operations require additional identity verification, including biometric identification.
Safety Measures
- 01Do not disclose SMS codes and EDS data to third parties;
- 02Do not follow instructions from unknown callers;
- 03Do not click on suspicious links;
- 04Do not install unknown applications or grant them access to your device;
- 05Independently check the validity of your EDS and use only official services.
Legal Requirements
Today, by law, a single SMS code is not enough to reissue an EDS. It requires passing the established identification procedure, including biometric authentication. Employees of eGov and the 1414 contact center, as well as law enforcement officers, never ask for SMS codes over the phone. They also have no right to demand the EDS key or its password.
How to Check EDS Validity
You can check the validity of your EDS in the eGov Mobile app under "Profile" – "My EDS," as well as on the pki.gov.kz website after authorization in the "My EDS Keys" – "List of EDS Keys" section.