Majority of Convicted Workers in Kazakhstan Now Hired
In a bid to combat cybercrime, four fraudulent centers in Almaty and Astana have been liquidated since the beginning of the year, according to official reports. Furthermore, two more call centers operating abroad were shut down in January 2025 during a joint international special operation. These actions were not the only efforts taken to curb cybercrime in Kazakhstan.
Recent operations have also resulted in the blocking of 644 million tenge on accounts registered to "money mules". However, specific details about an "Anti-fraud center" project within Kazakhstan, SIM box seizures, and the employment status of convicted persons related to cybercrime or fraud were not found in the available data.
Nonetheless, it's worth noting that globally, designated anti-fraud centers play a crucial role in coordinating fraud reporting, investigation, and victim assistance. Malaysia’s National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) and related legislation serve as an example of such integrated frameworks. Advanced fraud detection techniques, such as real-time injection attack defenses and AI-based deepfake detection, are also being employed worldwide to prevent identity fraud in digital services.
In related news, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Bakhytzhan Maken in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The agenda of the meeting included countering cybercrime and improving the penal system. During the meeting, it was announced that efforts are being made to attract business and create new jobs by providing institutional territories for the installation of quick-assembly modular objects.
The importance of involving independent experts in monitoring law enforcement practices was also highlighted by the Public Council. Through cooperation with second-tier banks, the "Anti-fraud center" project has prevented the withdrawal of approximately 2.2 billion tenge from victims' accounts.
In terms of the penal system, there are currently 78 penal institutions functioning in the country. It was reported that 60% of employable inmates have been employed, with 259 production facilities transferred to trust management, employing around 4,500 inmates.
The clearance rate for cybercrime cases is rising, with six criminal cases opened this year for creating and leading organized criminal groups, including one transnational OCG. In a significant development, four call centers targeting foreign citizens were discovered in Almaty in September 2024, leading to the detainment of 47 foreign citizens and 5 Kazakhs.
The head of the Cybercrime Prevention Department of the MIA, Zhandos Suiunbay, stated that they are enhancing the effectiveness of combating cybercrime. During joint investigative activities with mobile operators, 75 SIM boxes and over 89,000 unregistered SIM cards used for illegal activities were seized.
The Public Council emphasized the need for further strengthening dialogue between state structures and civil society. It is recommended that official government or cybersecurity agency releases from Kazakhstan or trusted local media be consulted for the most reliable and up-to-date information on the “Anti-fraud center” project, SIM box seizures, and the employment status of those convicted.
[1] Rapid digitalization and the availability of automated hacking tools are contributing to growing cyber threats in Kazakhstan, including fraud and AI-assisted cyberattacks. [2] Malaysia’s National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) and related legislation provide an example of an integrated framework for cybercrime prevention, including anti-fraud centers, collaboration with telecommunications companies, and law enforcement. [3] Advanced fraud detection techniques, such as real-time injection attack defenses and AI-based deepfake detection, represent cutting-edge tools used worldwide to prevent identity fraud in digital services.
- General news reports have highlighted the role of anti-fraud centers, such as Malaysia's National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), in combating cybercrime, including fraud and AI-assisted cyberattacks, as part of a broader integrated framework for cybersecurity.
- glpolitics discussions have centered around the importance of strengthening dialogue between state structures and civil society in Kazakhstan, with the Public Council stressing the need for reliable and up-to-date information on anti-fraud centers, SIM box seizures, and the employment status of those convicted from official government sources or trusted local media.
