Financial fraud has become one of the most serious threats facing citizens and financial systems worldwide. Fake calls from “bank employees,” fraudulent transfers, loans taken out using stolen identities, and financial pyramids are no longer isolated incidents. In Kazakhstan, the key institution countering these risks is the Anti-Fraud Center of the National Bank, which continues to expand its capabilities and deliver tangible results, DKNews.kz reports.
Nearly 100,000 incidents and billions secured
As of 1 January 2026, the Anti-Fraud Center registered 80,871 transactions with signs of fraud. In addition, around 19,810 incidents were linked to drug trafficking, illegal gambling activities and financial pyramid schemes.
These figures translate into real financial protection. Thanks to the Center’s timely intervention, KZT 2.8 billion was blocked, while more than KZT 500 million was returned to citizens who had fallen victim to fraudulent activities.
A unified system against fraud
One of the Anti-Fraud Center’s main strengths is its integrated approach. Within a single operational framework, close cooperation has been established among:
- participants of the financial market
- the Prosecutor General’s Office
- the Ministry of Internal Affairs
- mobile network operators
This coordinated interaction allows suspicious transactions to be detected earlier, cross-checked across multiple databases and addressed before funds are irreversibly lost.
2025: a year of major expansion
In 2025, the National Bank carried out large-scale work to enhance the functionality and effectiveness of the Anti-Fraud Center. A comprehensive package of legislative amendments was adopted, introducing several key improvements.
The reforms include:
- simplified procedures for returning blocked funds to victims;
- integration with IMEI databases and telecom operators’ systems to identify phone numbers involved in fraud and require their blocking;
- expansion of the Center’s functionality through access to additional databases to combat other illegal activities, including drug trafficking and illegal gambling;
- the ability for individuals listed in the Anti-Fraud Center’s databases to access a limited range of financial services, such as pensions, scholarships, social benefits and salary payments.
This approach strengthens control while ensuring that essential social payments remain accessible.
Faster investigations and response
Integration with government information systems has significantly accelerated enforcement. In August 2025, the National Bank and the Prosecutor General’s Office completed the first stage of integrating the Anti-Fraud Center with the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations.
As a result:
- registration and documentation of offenses became simpler;
- prosecutorial oversight of illegal financial transactions was strengthened;
- response times to incidents were reduced.
Work is also underway to integrate the platform with the IMEI database managed by the Ministry of Digital Development and Artificial Intelligence.
New obligations for banks and financial institutions
Under the new law on banks and related legislation, measures to combat fraud in the financial market and protect consumers have been reinforced. The range of Anti-Fraud Center participants has been expanded to include credit bureaus.
They are now required to promptly report cases where an individual submits applications for consumer loans or microcredits to two or more financial institutions within one hour. This allows potentially fraudulent activity to be detected at a very early stage.
In addition, financial and payment institutions are now obliged to reimburse victims if a payment or transfer was made:
- to a beneficiary who was already listed in the Anti-Fraud Center’s database at the time of the transaction;
- in violation of sender identification requirements, where a court ruling confirming fraud has entered into force.
Artificial intelligence against fraud
The next stage in the development of the Anti-Fraud Center focuses on analytics and advanced technologies. The National Bank is working to strengthen the platform’s analytical capabilities and launch pilot projects using artificial intelligence.
These tools will be used for:
- behavioral analysis of clients;
- early detection of suspicious transactions;
- forecasting potential fraud risks before financial damage occurs.
Why this matters to every citizen
The Anti-Fraud Center’s work goes beyond regulation and banking oversight. It directly affects the safety of everyday finances — salaries, pensions, benefits and personal savings. The growing number of detected incidents highlights the scale of the challenge, while the billions of tenge blocked and returned demonstrate that Kazakhstan’s system is increasingly proactive rather than reactive.
By combining legislation, technology and inter-agency cooperation, Kazakhstan is building a multi-layered defense against financial fraud — a crucial foundation for maintaining trust in the financial system and protecting citizens in an increasingly digital economy.
