Uzbekistan dismantles cybercrime group in Tashkent PHOTO

Uzbekistan's Department for Combating Cybercrime, together with the State Security Service, has uncovered two major fraudulent call centres creating phishing links in Tashkent, according to the Interior Ministry.

It said the call centres operated with a hierarchical structure that included managers, organisers, assistants, team leaders and operators, Caliber.Az reports, citing Uzbek media.

The call centre, employing 97 people, including five foreign nationals, was discovered on the sixth floor of a business centre in the Yashnabad District,

A second operation, employing 34 people, including three foreigners, was found on the 11th floor of another business centre in the Yakkasaray District.

Investigators said the group created phishing links promising returns of up to 70 per cent per month and contacted citizens in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and other countries using spoofed phone numbers. Victims were allegedly persuaded to transfer crypto assets under the guise of investment opportunities.

Among the employees were students from prestigious universities who were fluent in foreign languages.

During searches, law enforcement officers seized 136 computers, 90 monitors, 73 system units, 53 all-in-one computers, 320 mobile phones, 128 hard drives, 175 storage devices, two safes and other equipment.

Authorities made it clear that the scheme was organised by a foreign national acting together with a 48-year-old Uzbek citizen.

A criminal case has been opened. Two managers and 18 other suspects have been arrested, while investigative actions involving another 111 individuals are ongoing.

Investigators also established that the network operated call centres in Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

According to authorities, efforts are underway to dismantle the broader international criminal network through joint operations.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov