The Internal Affairs Directorate of Tashkent Region has shut down a criminal group that promised interest-free loans and embezzled large sums from hundreds of citizens. The press service of the directorate reported the development.

According to the investigation, group members posted fake online advertisements offering interest-free or preferential loans. Interested citizens were invited to luxurious pre-rented offices to discuss the terms.

“We will issue a 100 million soum loan in your name. Half of it — 50 million — will be given to you, and the other 50 million will stay with the company. We will cover the monthly loan payments ourselves; you will have no problems,” the scammers allegedly promised their victims.

As a result, the group members processed loans in the names of more than 400 citizens using their phones and pocketed half of the disbursed funds — totaling over 17 billion soums (approximately $1.5 million). After some time, citizens began receiving debt collection demands from banks.

A criminal case has been opened under Article 168 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code. Six members of the criminal group have been detained as suspects.

The Internal Affairs Directorate urged citizens not to trust suspicious and fake credit offers online, such as “interest-free credit,” “very low-interest credit,” or “credit without documents,” and to remain vigilant.

Source: www.gazeta.uz