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In recent times, cases of fraud involving the use of women’s photos from social media have become more frequent in Uzbekistan. Criminals, using modern technology, create deepfakes and manipulated materials, turning ordinary photos into intimate scenes. This type of fraud has already led to numerous instances of cyberbullying and financial scams.
How does it work? Fraudsters take publicly available photos from the profiles of Uzbek women on social networks and, using special programs and artificial intelligence, create fake intimate photos and videos where the women appear to be involved in pornographic scenes. The criminals then create fake profiles in the names of these women, portraying them as “sex workers.” Through these profiles, the fraudsters find “clients,” promising intimate services.
To make the scam more convincing, the criminals send clients the fabricated photos and videos. Once the client starts to trust the fraudsters, they are asked to transfer a deposit to a specified bank card. After receiving the money, the fraudsters immediately delete the correspondence and block the client.
According to the Cybersecurity Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a similar case recently occurred in the Kashkadarya region. The criminal used photos stolen from a woman’s social media profile. Using special image editing software, he created fake profiles in her name on the Telegram messenger and the social network “Odnoklassniki.” Through these profiles, he falsely claimed to offer intimate services and fraudulently stole money from users’ bank cards.
A criminal case was initiated under Article 141-3, Part 1 (dissemination of information that harms the honor and dignity of a person and reflects intimate aspects of their life) of the Criminal Code. The perpetrator was apprehended and turned out to be a resident of the Navoi region.
This is a new and extremely dangerous type of fraud that threatens not only the financial security of victims but also their reputations. The Cybersecurity Committee urges all residents of Uzbekistan to be cautious and avoid posting personal data and photos in public sources, as well as to immediately report such cases to law enforcement authorities.
The text has been translated by AI. For more accurate information, please refer to the Russian version of the article
