Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry, together with the National Security Committee, prosecutors and Czech police, has dismantled an international channel involved in the illegal distribution of personal data of Kazakhstanis and citizens of CIS countries as a result of a large-scale special operation, citing Polisia.kz.
According to Zhandos Suyinbay, head of the Interior Ministry’s Cybercrime Department, a lengthy operational investigation, careful planning and coordinated actions by law enforcement agencies made it possible to identify and stop the activities of a criminal group operating internationally.
“Searches were carried out simultaneously at the places of residence of the suspects in the cities of Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic, Astana, Almaty and Karaganda. During the investigative actions, a significant number of digital storage devices containing evidence of illegal activity, as well as cash, were seized,” he explained.
According to the ministry, the perpetrators created a closed online resource to carry out their criminal activities, where they posted personal data of citizens of Kazakhstan and neighboring countries.
“There was a clear hierarchy within the group: each participant performed their own role — from coordinators of the criminal scheme to operators who received and processed orders for so-called personal data lookups. Drop accounts were used to cash out illegally obtained funds,” the ministry specified.
It is noted that a price list had been established for various types of illegal services, including one-time requests and subscription access to the resource. The alleged organizers of the criminal scheme have been detained and placed in a temporary detention facility. The investigation is ongoing.
The Interior Ministry noted that it will continue comprehensive measures to combat cybercrime, identify and dismantle channels for the illegal distribution of personal data, and protect the rights and safety of citizens.
