Kazakhstan uncovers network of 150 money mules in online fraud crackdown

Kazakhstan's Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) has dismantled a criminal group suspected of helping online fraudsters launder stolen money through a network of more than 150 money mules, authorities said.

Thus, the group, uncovered in the city of Aktobe, allegedly consisted of more than 10 people who recruited over 150 individuals whose bank accounts were used to transfer and legalise illicit proceeds, Caliber.Az reports via Kazakh media.

Investigators said the stolen funds were moved through bank accounts, converted into the USDT cryptocurrency and later withdrawn using fictitious loan agreements and shell companies.

Authorities have identified 80 victims across 16 regions of Kazakhstan, with total losses exceeding 120 million tenge (around US$283,000).

Eight suspects have been detained, while two others have been placed under house arrest. A court has also ordered the seizure of assets linked to the suspects, including eight flats, a car and digital assets worth 52,000 USDT.

The investigation is ongoing.

Money mules are individuals whose bank accounts are used by criminals to transfer or conceal proceeds from illegal activities, often without fully understanding the nature of the transactions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev