Interior Ministry urges Kazakh citizens to be cautious when traveling abroad

Tengrinews.kz - Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry has advised citizens to remain vigilant when traveling abroad, amid a rise in fraud cases related to overseas employment.

The ministry warned that job offers promising high salaries abroad—especially those that require no knowledge of the local language or prior experience—may be scams.

Officials also noted an increase in fraudulent offers of rental properties, holiday homes, and tourism services allegedly available at discounted “promo” prices.

Signs of fraud

The ministry outlined key red flags to watch out for when seeking jobs abroad, booking travel services, or renting accommodation. In many cases, scammers disappear after receiving advance payments, leaving victims with no recourse.

Common indicators of fraud include:

• requests for upfront payments for services, reservations, or paperwork;
• lack of an official website, legal address, or licenses;
• communication only through messaging apps and refusal to meet in person;
• use of fake contracts, fabricated reviews, and clone websites.

Precautionary measures

The Interior Ministry recommends the following safety steps:

• verify the legitimacy of companies by checking for licenses, registration data, and BIN numbers;
• never send money without a formal agreement;
• be wary of offers that seem too good to be true;
• do not share passport data or copies of documents with unknown individuals;
• use only trusted and recommended platforms for international employment and property rentals.

“If you become a victim of fraud, contact the police immediately,” the ministry stressed. “Your report can help bring perpetrators to justice and prevent future crimes.”

Previously, police warned about criminals using dating sites for scams.