Kyrgyz Job Seekers at Risk as UK Scam Offers Flood Messaging Apps

The Overseas Employment Center has issued a stern warning about a rapid rise in fraudulent job offers targeting Kyrgyz citizens, particularly promising bogus employment opportunities in the United Kingdom.

According to the Center, scammers are using WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram to contact prospective victims, posing as recruiters who promise “free” overseas jobs, The Caspian Post informs via Kyrgyz media.

These fraudsters often provide forged registration confirmations to build trust before demanding payments for things like medical insurance, opening a British bank account, or buying return flight tickets.

Scam Tactics Identified:

Asking for passport photos and personal identification details

Sending counterfeit documents falsely claiming to be from the UK Immigration Service

Requesting payments for “insurance,” “bank account setup,” or other services

Using AI‑generated documents to feign legitimacy

Threatening to blacklist individuals who refuse to comply

The Center strongly advises the public to never share personal documents or sensitive information with unknown contacts, to refuse money transfer requests via messaging apps, and to be wary of individuals posing as “managers” using UK or US telephone codes (+44, +1).

Officials also emphasized that the sole legitimate UK employment program currently open to Kyrgyz citizens is the seasonal agricultural labor scheme, limited to six months. This government‑sanctioned program does not charge recruitment fees - participants only cover visa and airfare costs, after signing an official contract.