Uzbekistan's Department for Combating Cybercrime, in cooperation with the State Security Service, has dismantled two large fraudulent call centres in Tashkent that were creating phishing links as part of an international cybercrime operation, the Interior Ministry said.

According to the ministry, the call centres operated with a hierarchical structure that included managers, organisers, assistants, team leaders and operators, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

The first call centre, which employed 97 people, including five foreign nationals, was located on the sixth floor of a business centre in Tashkent's Yashnabad District.

A second operation, employing 34 people, including three foreign nationals, was uncovered on the 11th floor of another business centre in the Yakkasaray District.

Investigators said the group created phishing links promising investment returns of up to 70 per cent per month. Using spoofed phone numbers, the suspects contacted citizens in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and other countries, persuading victims to transfer cryptocurrency under the guise of lucrative investment opportunities.

Authorities noted that the employees included students from prestigious universities who were fluent in foreign languages.

During searches of the premises, law enforcement officers seized 136 computers, 90 monitors, 73 system units, 53 all-in-one computers, 320 mobile phones, 128 hard drives, 175 storage devices, two safes and other equipment.

Investigators determined that the criminal scheme had been organised by a foreign national in cooperation with a 48-year-old Uzbek citizen.

A criminal case has been launched. Two managers and 18 other suspects have been arrested, while investigative actions involving another 111 individuals are continuing.

Authorities also established that the network operated similar call centres in Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

According to investigators, joint operations are currently underway to dismantle the wider international criminal network.