☠️ Kazakhstan🇰🇿: strengthens its fight against the use of money mules among foreign nationals entering the country

☠️ Kazakhstan🇰🇿: strengthens its fight against the use of money mules among foreign nationals entering the country

Foreign nationals are now also warned at the border that they must not transfer their accounts, cards, or access to mobile banking to third parties. Such actions are subject to criminal liability under Article 232-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

🔣 Common scheme: foreign citizens entering Kazakhstan for the first time obtain an IIN (individual identification number), open bank accounts and cards, and then transfer or rent them to third parties. Why do operators specifically target people who have never previously been in the country ❓ The explanation is straightforward: these individuals generally do not know the local legislation or accept compensation without understanding the consequences.

🔣 Consequences: Article 232-1, Part 1, of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to 160 MRP (monthly calculation index), corrective labor, or up to 50 days of arrest with confiscation of property. (The arrest penalty will apply from January 1, 2027.) Mitigating circumstances include genuine remorse, admission of guilt, and no prior criminal record.

🔣 …By the way, 🐦‍⬛️🐦‍⬛️🐦‍⬛️: according to data from the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, since the beginning of 2026, authorities have detected 1,300 fraudulent loans worth USD 4,553,780.7. Other forms of fraud were considerably less common. Financial pyramids and investment projects accounted for 770 cases; account or domain hacking, 182; and cryptocurrency-related fraud, 170. Another 142 cases involved social-media and messaging campaigns containing fraudulent notifications supposedly from financial institutions or requests to lend money; 60 cases involved charity-related fraud; 52 involved fictitious lotteries, quizzes, and contests; and 10 involved fictitious online casinos.

Overall, money mules continue to be used in a variety of financial and fraudulent schemes. Despite the warnings issued at border crossings, the measures currently in place may not be sufficient to eliminate the practice.

#news #NearAbroad #Asia #fraud

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