The Tourism Industry Committee of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Kazakhstan has reported the initiation of a criminal case against the company 'InCruises'. Earlier, more than 135 Kazakhstani citizens filed a court claim demanding the return of nearly $243,000 and the recognition of the company's activities as illegal. InCruises has been operating in the country since 2017, offering participation in a 'cruise club' with promises of free travel and bonuses for attracting new clients.
However, according to the project 'Stop_piramida.kz', the reality was different: refunds were blocked, rules were changed unilaterally, and some of the promised services became unavailable.
According to client testimonies, the first serious problems appeared in 2023. The plaintiffs are confident that the company violated the consumer protection laws of Kazakhstan and the USA, and are demanding a complete ban on its activities in the country.
Incidentally, the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) had previously added InCruises to the list of companies showing signs of being financial pyramids.
After receiving appeals from citizens, the Tourism Industry Committee reported that InCruises is not listed in the state electronic register of permits and notifications as a travel agent or tour operator.
The Committee sent a letter to law enforcement agencies for an inspection, as well as to the Department of Economic Investigations of Atyrau, which initiated a criminal case.
At the same time, the Committee emphasised that investigations into matters related to fraud and financial pyramids fall outside its competence. Therefore, all materials were transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for further action.