A scheme for laundering criminal proceeds obtained from the organisation of the "LIVEGOOD" financial pyramid has been uncovered in Astana.
According to the press service of the AFM, between 2023 and 2025, the suspect headed a branch of the financial pyramid, which was disguised as network marketing for the sale of dietary supplements.
"The pyramid scheme was based on a binary system, according to which participants were placed at different levels depending on the number of new participants they had invited. Thus, the main income of the financial pyramid came not from the sale of dietary supplements, but from the contributions of new investors," the statement reads.
It has become known that more than 6,000 citizens purchased a subscription to the company 'LIVEGOOD' for $50 with a monthly payment, hoping for bonuses of up to $2,000.
It is noted that the suspects used the funds received to purchase two apartments worth more than 60 million tenge. The property was registered in the names of other individuals to conceal it from potential confiscation.
Furthermore, during the investigation, AFM officers also identified crypto-assets belonging to the suspects on the 'Binance' exchange amounting to 0.28 BTC ($28,000). By court order, the property and crypto-assets, as well as 19 million tenge and $4,000 seized during a search, were placed under arrest.
In early February, the suspect was detained at Astana airport while attempting to fly to Turkey and was placed in a temporary detention facility. The court authorised a pre-trial restraint measure of two months' custody for the man.
Recall that previously in the Pavlodar region, a resident of Ekibastuz was convicted for organising a financial pyramid on the WhatsApp messenger. At the end of 2020, she created groups such as 'Lifestyle', 'Karlygash', 'Umnozhayka', 'Shans', and others, where she attracted investors by promising high profits. As a result, 23 victims suffered material damage totalling 26 million tenge.