The Anti-Fraud Center of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, launched in July 2024, has rapidly become a central pillar of the country’s national strategy against online fraud. In just a few months, it has grown into a unified coordination platform that connects more than 250 organizations, including banks, microfinance institutions, mobile operators, digital service providers, law enforcement bodies, and government data systems, DKNews.kz reports.
Its mission is straightforward yet critical: stop fraud before the money reaches criminals and make digital fraud economically unprofitable.
A unified architecture: how the Anti-Fraud Center is reshaping Kazakhstan’s cybersecurity landscape
For the first time, anti-fraud mechanisms are legally regulated in Kazakhstan. This ensures:
- uniform security requirements for all financial market participants
- a shared interaction protocol between banks, telecom operators, and law enforcement
- fast and continuous data exchange - from incident detection to blocking suspicious transactions
- the ability to promptly return funds to victims
Instead of fragmented systems, Kazakhstan now has a single digital ecosystem where every participant reinforces the rest.
The scale of the challenge: over 80,000 fraud-related incidents in just a few months
Since its launch, the Anti-Fraud Center has recorded more than 80,000 incidents, demonstrating how deeply digital fraud has penetrated the market.
- about half of all cases come from financial institutions
- the other half from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other law enforcement agencies
- a significant portion is linked to drug-related crimes, revealing the overlap of criminal networks
This volume of data makes it possible to build accurate behavioral models of fraudsters and predict future threats - something Kazakhstan did not previously have at a systemic level.
The top 5 fraud schemes: 81% of all reported incidents
Today, five types of fraud account for the overwhelming majority of cases:
- Phone scams - classic social engineering attacks.
- Fake online stores - especially common on Instagram, WhatsApp, and marketplaces.
- Pseudo-investment schemes - promising unrealistic returns via social media ads.
- Social media scams - hacked accounts, fake pleas for help, phishing links.
- Credit fraud - often linked to fake calls or fraudulent investment offers.
These five categories represent 81% of all incidents, enabling targeted preventive measures.
Phone scams: the leading cause of financial losses
Phone-based social engineering remains the most damaging scheme.
- more than 10,000 victims
- the largest recorded loss - 76.4 million ₸
- average loss - about 2.8 million ₸
Even though mobile operators now block spoofed and foreign numbers, criminals have migrated to messengers, where protections are weaker.
This makes digital literacy and critical thinking essential tools of defense.
Fake online stores: why escrow is the only reliable safeguard
One striking statistic: 68% of all recipients of fraudulent payments are individuals, not businesses.
This means many Kazakhstani consumers still transfer money directly to private accounts without basic verification.
A notable case - a 100 million ₸ fraud related to fundraising for Hajj - highlighted the urgent need for:
- wider adoption of escrow systems
- stronger oversight of charitable and religious collections
- safe and regulated platforms for online donations
Pseudo-investments: exploiting psychology and trust
Fake investment schemes follow a predictable pattern:
- promises of “50-200% returns”
- aggressive social media advertising
- emotional pressure
- operational lifespan of about six months
Then operators disappear.
Financial literacy becomes the main protective shield: understanding licensed brokers, real market returns, and the risks involved.
Who becomes a victim: geography, age, and seasonal patterns
Geography
Most victims are concentrated in:
- Almaty
- Astana
- Karaganda
However, fraud cases are recorded across the entire country.
Age
There is no single universal victim profile - victims include older adults, middle-aged citizens, and youth.
But a worrying trend has emerged: 18-24-year-olds are increasingly becoming “droppers” - intermediaries who unknowingly launder stolen money.
Many do not realize they are participating in a criminal offense.
Criminal liability for dropper activity is very real:
- compensation of financial losses
- criminal charges
- possible prison sentences
Seasonality
Fraud spikes in autumn, particularly fake online stores - reflecting an increase in online shopping activity.
Preventive work among youth: more than 100 educational events across universities
The Anti-Fraud Center, together with financial institutions, law enforcement, and the Fingramota.kz project of ARFR, has conducted over 100 educational sessions in universities and colleges across Kazakhstan.
Students learned:
- how to recognize fraud schemes
- what dropper activity is and why it is dangerous
- real case studies and consequences
This preventive work will continue systematically.
The financial sector strengthens protection: the first results are impressive
Banks and financial organizations have implemented modern anti-fraud systems fully integrated with the National Bank’s platform.
These tools allow institutions to:
- block suspicious transactions within minutes
- quickly exchange information with the Ministry of Internal Affairs
- prevent funds from being transferred abroad
Results so far:
- 1.9 billion ₸ preserved on senders’ accounts
- 400 million ₸ frozen on recipients’ accounts pending return
- 461 million ₸ already returned to victims
These numbers reflect only the early phase of the platform’s operation - and they are already comparable to outcomes in more mature markets.
The most important message for every citizen
If you become a victim of fraud:
Contact your bank immediately.
Speed is the key factor. The sooner the bank is notified, the higher the chance of:
- blocking the transaction
- freezing the funds
- recovering the money
Every minute matters. Delay dramatically lowers the likelihood of recovery.
Kazakhstan is building a new, technology-driven shield against digital fraud
The Anti-Fraud Center is not just another tool. It is the core of a national security ecosystem, where the government, financial sector, and technology companies operate as one coordinated mechanism.
Kazakhstan is building a model aligned with best international practices - from the United States to Singapore.
Most importantly, the system is already delivering tangible results and strengthening public trust in the digital economy.
