An online con artist managed to deceive 405 residents of Uzbekistan within a span of five days, transferring a total of 142 million soums. According to reports cited by nuzu.uz and a segment from MY5 TV, the incident highlights a coordinated fraud scheme that exploited fake adult content sites and a convincing cybercrime warning message.
The fraudulent technique began with links to counterfeit pornographic pages. When curious users clicked these links, they were confronted with a notification that appeared to come from the Cybercrime Combatting Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The message claimed that the user was restricted from visiting sites showing prohibited pornographic material involving elements of pedophilia or violent propaganda. To remove the block and regain access, the notification stated, a penalty of 350 thousand soums had to be paid to a state bank card.
Over the five days of operation, 405 Uzbek citizens fell victim to the scammers, and a sizable sum, 142 million soums, was diverted to the attacker’s accounts. Investigators confirmed that the suspect’s identity had been established. The person is described as a 31-year-old man holding Ukrainian citizenship. Pre-investigation checks indicate that the individual altered the numbers associated with state bank cards multiple times during the course of the scheme.
Authorities are now tracing the flow of funds and are examining how the fraudulent system operated across different financial accounts. Security analysts note that this case demonstrates how official-looking notices can be used to manipulate individuals into transferring money without realizing they are being deceived. The investigation continues as authorities work to recover funds and determine whether other accomplices were involved in the operation.
Experts have warned that cybercriminals frequently adapt their methods to exploit current events or newly perceived threats. In related analyses, researchers have observed a rise in hacking attempts and fraud schemes that prey on fear and urgency. The Uzbekistan case serves as a reminder that even official-sounding alerts can be fake, and individuals should verify the source of any financial requests before taking action.
As this situation unfolds, observers note the importance of public awareness campaigns to educate residents about online scams. Authorities encourage citizens to use official channels for reporting suspicious activity and to rely on verified information when assessing warnings that appear on their screens.
Further updates from authorities and media outlets are expected as investigators continue to gather evidence and trace digital transactions. [Source: MY5 TV and nuzu.uz]”