Phone fraud has long become a modern epidemic. Criminals are constantly inventing new ways to deceive, posing as either bank security services or law enforcement agencies.
This time, the editorial team of FBRK managed to personally encounter yet another fraudulent scheme, where criminals hide behind the topics of fire safety, government statistics, and personnel training all at once.
It all started with an unexpected phone call. A voice on the line, introducing itself as one Abdikarimov, immediately adopted an aggressive tone. “The moratorium has ended; you may receive an inspection visit,” the caller began threateningly, demanding we urgently undergo fire safety training and obtain some “workplace certification certificate.”
Interestingly, the fraudster, contradicting himself, claimed to be an employee of the Bureau of National Statistics one moment, and a fire safety specialist the next. At the same time, he demonstrated an impressive level of knowledge, freely using the editorial team’s contact details. It is clear that the criminals have access to personal data databases, which makes their calls far more convincing.
We took the trouble to check the number provided and found dozens of similar complaints. The scheme turned out to be well-established: the criminals demand around 50,000 tenge for fake training, exploiting the fear of inspections and fines.
When we called the number again, instead of a real person, an answering machine with a synthesised voice played, informing us that we had reached the Republican Centre for Training and Advanced Qualifications.
The psychology of deception in this case is particularly sophisticated. The fraudsters deliberately use strange combinations of government agencies to confuse the victim and create doubt.
They are well aware that not every business owner is familiar with which state body is responsible for what. Mentioning grand phrases like “national statistics,” “mandatory inspection,” or “large fine” creates an illusion of officialdom and causes anxiety.
The criminals’ main goal is to catch people off guard. In a moment of stress, the victim focuses on the threat of fines and the urgency of payment, instead of asking themselves the logical question: what connection could there be between a statistical agency and fire safety?
The criminals skillfully play on emotions: stress, fear, and confusion are their main tools. The quicker a person succumbs to panic, the higher the chance they will comply with the fraudsters’ demands.
It is important to remember that the main weapon against such schemes is critical thinking and keeping a cool head. Any demands for urgent payment, especially those accompanied by threats and intimidation, should raise immediate suspicion.
The ability to spot illogical statements from the caller is already half the battle in standing up to fraudsters. In case of doubt, information can always be verified through official communication channels of government bodies.
The editorial team of FBRK calls on law enforcement agencies and relevant departments to pay close attention to the increasing number of such fraud cases.
We remind you that compromising material, information about the business dealings of officials and their families, as well as details of corruption violations, can be sent to our anonymous bot.