In Turkestan Region, Kazakhstan, law enforcement officers have detained 20 suspects linked to a large-scale internet fraud scheme, while two others are wanted internationally.

Investigations revealed that in 2024-2025, a foreign national created and led an organized crime group (OCG) operating in Kazakhstan. The group used online and phone scams to defraud 21 victims of over 125 million tenge ($253,000), The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Suspects posed as postal and telecom workers, fraudulently taking out loans in victims’ names and keeping the funds. So far, 20 million tenge ($40,500) has been returned to the victims, and three vehicles belonging to the suspects were seized. The remaining losses will be recovered through court enforcement.

The pre-trial investigation under Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code - Articles 190 (Fraud) and 262 (Organized Crime) - has been completed.

This follows another recent crackdown in Kazakhstan, where 20 OCG members were detained for weapons trafficking, extortion, and other crimes.