Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry issues warning ahead of February 14

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has warned citizens about a heightened risk of online fraud during holiday discounts and Valentine’s Day sales.

“Ahead of Valentine’s Day, many people are looking for the perfect gift for their significant other. During festive discounts and ‘hot’ sales, online scammers become especially active,” the ministry said.

To make sure a romantic surprise doesn’t turn into a loss of money, the MIA urged people to follow basic safety steps.

What the MIA advises

• Buy only from trusted websites and official marketplaces
• Do not click suspicious links from messages or comments
• Be cautious of very low prices — if a deal looks too good, it’s a reason to be alert
• Ask sellers to confirm the item is real and available — for example, via a video call showing the product and the store address. Scammers usually avoid such requests and may send only a geolocation pin as a trick
• Be careful when paying: do not transfer money to personal accounts or questionable payment details
• Protect your personal data: never share passwords, SMS codes, bank card details or other sensitive information with strangers