An illegal call center that had been defrauding citizens through online fraud and embezzling their funds has been shut down in the Shaykhantahur district of Tashkent. According to preliminary data, more than 110 citizens lost over 300 million sums. The Tashkent Regional Department of Internal Affairs reported this.
During an operational search operation conducted by officers of the Department for Combating Crimes in the Field of Information Technology of the Regional Department of Internal Affairs, an illegal call center — a "cyber bunker" — was discovered on the 4th floor of a multi-story building in the Shaykhantahur district. During the pre-investigation check, it was established that the center was operated by D.Kh., born in 2005, a resident of Fergana region with no prior convictions, and his accomplices.
They called citizens, introducing themselves as representatives of the Uzum Market trading app. Citizens were given false information that they had won the "company's promotion." The fraudsters asked for payment for the gift, as well as for the transfer of funds from a credit or micro-loan limit allocated to the citizen temporarily to the private enterprises "ALVION," "MEGA TECNO," and "MEGA SHOP." In return, they promised the delivery of household appliances allegedly won in the "company's promotion."
Group members also registered on the trading platform as product suppliers. Some buyers who demanded delivery of the product or expressed dissatisfaction by saying "I will complain about you" were deliberately sent very cheap, low-quality, or completely inappropriate products. Thus, the victims' attention was distracted, and the fraudsters managed to fully embezzle the credit or micro-loan limits allocated to them. After the funds were transferred, in most cases, contact with the victims was cut off.
During the investigations, it was found that 5 operators worked in the "cyber bunker" organized through the private enterprises "ALVION," "MEGA TECNO," and "MEGA SHOP" in the Shaykhantahur district. They called hundreds of citizens on behalf of fake online stores on social networks. During the operational event, 10 computer sets, 8 mobile phones, 150 sheets of personal data, tables of limits allocated from the "UZUM NASIYA" app, as well as 2 notebooks were seized and processed as material evidence.
Currently, preliminary investigation and operational-search activities are underway to determine the involvement of group members in fraud cases in other regions of the country, as well as to determine the amount of material damage caused to citizens and its compensation. The Tashkent Regional Department of Internal Affairs called on citizens affected by fraud related to the activities of the private enterprises "ALVION," "MEGA TECNO," and "MEGA SHOP" to contact +998 71 762−21−35, +998 71 762−20−24, +998 71 762−20−25 or the nearest internal affairs body.
Earlier, two illegal call centers that had been defrauding foreigners through cryptocurrency and investment projects were exposed in Tashkent. A total of 131 people, including 8 foreign citizens, worked in them.
Source: www.gazeta.uz