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At Tashkent’s largest electronics market, “Malika,” a fraudulent scheme involving the sale of phones bought on credit is gaining momentum. Numerous customers have reported that phones they believed to be new have turned into a nightmare, as a few months later they start receiving SMS messages demanding that they repay a bank loan supposedly taken out for these phones.
Victimized buyers have shared their stories in the community “Potrebitel.uz.” The scenario is always the same: people think they are buying a new phone, but after 2-5 months, they start receiving messages from banks asking them to pay off the credit debt for the phone.
How does this fraudulent scheme work?
It turns out this is a fairly common scam among dishonest sellers and individuals who urgently need money. A person takes out a phone on credit and immediately resells it to stores at the “Malika” market through familiar vendors. To avoid suspicion, the fraudster makes small payments on the credit for the first few months, so the new owner doesn’t notice anything wrong. However, after a while, they stop making payments, and the credit debt surfaces, leaving the unsuspecting buyer to deal with the issue.
By the time the fraud is uncovered, it’s often too late to prove anything. Sellers refuse to replace the phone, claiming they knew nothing about the situation. The only option for victims is to file a report with the police, but even this does not always guarantee a solution.
How to avoid falling into this trap?
- Careful inspection: Always check the phone’s documentation, especially when purchasing from a market. Be sure to ask the seller about the origin of the device and whether it’s tied to any credit agreement.
- Buy from trusted vendors: Try to make purchases from official stores that provide guarantees and documentation proving the device isn’t burdened with credit obligations.
- Report to law enforcement: If you find yourself a victim of such fraud, don’t delay. Visit your local police department and file a report. The sooner you act, the better your chances of achieving justice.
The fraudulent phone scheme at the “Malika” market is on the rise, and the only way to protect yourself is to remain vigilant and cautious when making purchases.
The text has been translated by AI. For more accurate information, please refer to the Russian version of the article
