Kazakhstanis are being offered mortgages supposedly on special terms for teachers, doctors and civil servants. However, such advertisements may be placed by companies that promote paid consultations rather than new state housing programmes.
HOW MORTGAGES ARE ADVERTISED UNDER THE GUISE OF SPECIAL PROGRAMMES
According to the centre for combating disinformation, publications are being circulated on social media that create the impression that special conditions for purchasing housing are available to certain categories of citizens.
The advertisements use the headlines “Mortgages for teachers”, “Housing for doctors” and “A special programme for civil servants”.
However, such offers are not always connected to separate state programmes. Companies often use this method to attract clients to their consulting services.
WHY KAZAKHSTANIS MAY PAY FOR UNNECESSARY CONSULTATIONS
A person who sees the name of their profession in an advertisement may conclude that the state has launched a new mortgage programme specifically for them.
In practice, the same housing programmes, available to citizens regardless of their profession provided the established conditions are met, may lie behind various advertisements.
Such advertising can create false expectations. Potential borrowers spend time searching for special offers and may seek paid consultations, believing that it is impossible to arrange a mortgage without intermediaries.
WHAT WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR
The centre for combating disinformation recommends paying attention to the content of mortgage advertising.
Advertisements that do the following are grounds for further verification:
- Do not contain links to the official terms of the mortgage programme.
- Offer to reveal details only after a consultation has been paid for.
- Promise guaranteed approval of a mortgage loan.
The presence of such signs does not necessarily indicate illegal activity, but it does require the accuracy of the information to be verified.
HOW TO VERIFY INFORMATION ABOUT MORTGAGES
The centre urges Kazakhstanis to verify information about housing programmes through official sources and not to make financial decisions solely on the basis of social media publications.
The mere mention of a profession in an advertising headline does not confirm the existence of a separate state mortgage programme.
