Astana battles surge in online fraud with 1,537 cases in 2024

Online fraud has caused significant financial harm in Astana this year. Authorities have recorded 1,537 cases, with total losses reaching 907 million tenge. Efforts to combat these crimes are underway, with some progress already visible. Since the start of 2024, scammers have targeted Astana residents with increasingly advanced tactics. One victim lost 22.6 million tenge in a WhatsApp scam where criminals impersonated officials. A suspect from the Russian Federation has since been detained in connection with this case.

The ANTIFRAUD system has played a key role in prevention, blocking 19,600 accounts that could have been used for criminal schemes. Law enforcement has also solved 30.2% of reported cases, forwarding them to court. Additionally, 229 million tenge has been recovered for victims.

To improve security, experts recommend using hardware security keys or passkey technology. Another suggested measure is agreeing on a code word with family or close contacts to verify identities, especially in cases involving voice cloning. The rise of artificial intelligence has made scams more sophisticated. Despite the challenges, authorities have recovered funds and blocked suspicious accounts. Residents are encouraged to adopt stronger security measures to protect themselves from fraud.