The Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) has shut down the activities of two cross-border groups that used the bank accounts and cards of citizens of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to service online casinos. The volume of transactions on the cards of one group amounted to 500 million tenge, while the incoming turnover on the cards of the other exceeded 9.8 billion tenge.
HOW THE DROPPER NETWORKS OPERATED
According to the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM), members of the schemes set up so-called drop farms. They used the bank accounts of citizens of three countries to process payments linked to online casinos.
Foreigners arriving in Kazakhstan were issued individual identification numbers (IINs), SIM cards and bank accounts. Mobile devices with authorised banking apps were then handed over to the drop operators.
To manage the financial flows, the participants used a P2P platform. It handled the receipt of payments from players, automatic recognition of transfers and payment of winnings. Settlements between members of the scheme were also carried out in cryptocurrency.
WHAT WAS DISCOVERED IN TURKESTAN REGION AND ALMATY
In the Turkestan region and Almaty, three citizens of Uzbekistan were detained who, according to AFM data, used 89 Kazakhstani bank cards. 20 mobile devices intended for managing banking apps were seized from them.
The volume of transactions on the controlled cards reached 500 million tenge.
WHERE THE SECOND GROUP OPERATED
Another cross-border group was shut down in the Zhambyl region. Its members created dropper infrastructure in Taraz and Almaty, drawing citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan into the scheme, including minors.
During the searches, 180 bank cards, 15 mobile devices, 26 SIM cards, $50,000, 27,000 USDT, four cars, weapons and ammunition were seized.
The incoming turnover on the bank cards of this group exceeded 9.8 billion tenge.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROCEDURAL STATUS OF THE CASE
For five suspects, the court authorised detention in custody. The investigation is ongoing.
The AFM is not disclosing other information, citing Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
CONTEXT
Earlier, two residents of Shymkent were sentenced to four years' imprisonment for organising an illegal gambling business through the online platforms Bingo-37 and Lotoboom. The total turnover of the two online casinos amounted to 3.1 billion tenge.
In the Karaganda region, the activities were shut down of a group that provided for the receipt and withdrawal of funds from players of the online casino Vavada. Through 23 drop accounts, more than 415 million tenge was processed.
In September, in Almaty, the investigation was completed into the activities of the payment infrastructure of three online casinos, through which players' money was received and processed. According to the investigation, the bank accounts of 16 droppers were used for the operation of the scheme, into which more than 110 million tenge was received.
In July, the AFM shut down the activities of the online casino «Nomad Poker», which operated in Kazakhstan. According to the investigation, the gaming platform operated through a network of foreign droppers, and the amount of receipts from players exceeded 7.5 billion tenge.
