This article is also available in: Русский (Russian) Uzbek
Scammers have come up with a new way to steal money from the plastic cards of Uzbek citizens. In fact, the victims willingly give away their information. The scheme involves criminals posing as law enforcement officers who claim to urgently need information for an ongoing investigation. To make the scam more believable, scammers even create fake accounts that resemble the victim’s boss.
How does the scheme work?
The scammers act cleverly and professionally by creating fake accounts on Telegram, posing as heads of ministries, agencies, or large organizations. These fake profiles are used to contact subordinates and employees, sending them messages on behalf of “their boss.” The scammers convince the victims that their employer requires them to share certain information with law enforcement officers. They then warn the victim that a “law enforcement officer” will contact them shortly.
Soon after, the victim receives a call from another scammer posing as a law enforcement officer. Believing the situation to be real, the victim provides all the requested information, including plastic card details. Thinking they are helping with an investigation, victims end up giving away sensitive information, which scammers then use to withdraw money from their bank accounts. As a result, victims lose significant amounts of money.
How to protect yourself?
To avoid such situations, it’s important to remember a few simple rules:
- Always verify the sender’s authenticity. If you receive a suspicious message, even from someone you know, call them directly to confirm that they actually sent the message.
- Do not share confidential information with strangers. Never send confirmation codes, bank card details, or passwords in response to requests over the internet or phone.
- Stay vigilant. Scammers can be very convincing, but it’s always important to remain cautious, especially when money is involved.
What to do if you encounter fraud?
If you become a victim of scammers or face an attempted scam, immediately contact the Tashkent City Police Department by calling 71-206-55-00 or 102. Your identity will remain confidential. Stay alert and protect your data!
The article may contain inaccuracies as it is translated by AI. For more details, please refer to the Russian version of the article. If you notice any inaccuracies, you can send corrections via the Telegram bot: Uzvaibik_bot.