Kazakhstan Residents Transferred Significant Funds to Family Members under "State Housing Aid Program" without Subsequent Possession of Properties
In the bustling city of Aktau, rumors swirl about a shocking scheme. A whopping 55 residents claim they were deceived by a woman who promised to help them secure housing through a government program, at a cost ranging from 350,000 tenge to millions.
Tragically, some victims were even relatives of the alleged con artist. trusting blindly, believing her intimate bond with family members ensured a legitimate transaction.
The woman, who claimed to have successfully procured two apartments for herself, promised to provide the clients with their new homes within a year. To seal the deal, she even displayed luxurious buildings as options.
However, the harsh reality set in once the victims found themselves locked out, empty-handed, and millions of tenge lighter. Now, they're left to hunt for answers and their stolen funds through the court system, suspecting secret accomplices ensnared in the intricate web of deceit.
Sakena Alenova, a victim, shares her story, "I agreed on a three-bedroom apartment in the Batys-2 district. She told me the commission would be 1.8 million. Later, she offered to get me another apartment in the City district. I paid her another 500,000 tenge for that. She said she could even get me an apartment in Astana. She's my sister's sister-in-law."
While the veracity of these claims remains unproven, it's essential to remain vigilant. Similar incidents have struck other parts of Kazakhstan, such as Almaty and Eastern Kazakhstan, where fraudsters duped about 700 and 56 million tenge from unsuspecting citizens, respectively.
In the past, Aktau residents have also fallen prey to scams involving housing. Last January, an employee of a medical clinic swindled residents out of 20 million tenge, exploiting their trust to promise housing under preferential lending schemes.
Before venturing into any real estate deals, it's crucial to verify the legitimacy of the housing program with Aktau municipal authorities or Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development to safeguard yourself against potential fraudsters.
- In Aktau, a woman, who had impliedly secured two apartments for herself, is suspected of defrauding 55 residents, promising them housing for a cost ranging from 350,000 tenge to millions.
- The accused con artist, who is related to some of her victims, left them empty-handed and millions of tenge lighter after they found themselves locked out of promised apartments.
- The ongoing saga, which falls under general-news and crime-and-justice categories, is a stark reminder of previous housing scams in Aktau, such as the one that saw an employee of a medical clinic defraud residents of 20 million tenge last January.
- As similar incidents have been reported in Almaty and Eastern Kazakhstan, where fraudsters swindled about 700 and 56 million tenge, respectively, it is imperative for potential housing buyers to verify the legitimacy of the programs through Aktau municipal authorities or Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development to avoid falling prey to fraudsters.
