Astana loses 907M tenge to online fraud in 2024 as scams grow smarter

Online fraud has cost residents of Astana 907 million tenge this year. Authorities have recorded 1,537 cases since the start of 2024. A significant portion of these crimes has already reached the courts. One high-profile case involved a resident losing over 22 million tenge in a WhatsApp scam. The fraudsters impersonated officials to deceive the victim. A citizen of the Russian Federation has since been detained in connection with this incident.

The ANTIFRAUD system has played a key role in prevention. It has blocked 19,600 accounts in Astana that could have been used for criminal activity. Additionally, 229 million tenge has been recovered for victims.

Scammers are now turning to advanced methods to trick people. Artificial intelligence is being used more often to clone voices and create convincing deceptions. To counter this, experts suggest simple precautions. Using a pre-agreed code word with family or contacts can help verify identities. Hardware security keys and passkey technology also offer stronger protection against cyber threats. Authorities have solved 30.2% of reported online fraud cases in Astana and forwarded them to court. The recovered funds and blocked accounts show progress in tackling the issue. Prevention measures remain vital as scammers adopt new tactics.