University Lecturer in Kokshetau Loses 7.6 Million Tenge to Phone Scammers

A university lecturer in Kokshetau has become the victim of a major phone scam, losing over 7.6 million tenge after being deceived by individuals posing as law enforcement officers.

The incident was reported to the police on February 19. According to the victim, the ordeal began with a phone call from a man who introduced himself as a lawyer from her educational institution. He informed her that her personal affairs had allegedly attracted the attention of security forces and warned her that she would soon be contacted and would need to "cooperate."

Soon after, other unknown individuals began calling the woman. They followed a well-rehearsed script typical of fake officials, speaking about an ongoing investigation, potential risks, and the necessity to "secure her funds." Under sustained pressure and constant instruction, they convinced her not to tell anyone about the situation.

Without verifying any of this information, the lecturer took out loans from two banks and even pawned gold jewelry at a pawnshop. She then transferred all the money she obtained—totaling more than 7.6 million tenge—to bank accounts dictated to her over the phone.

A criminal case on charges of fraud has been initiated based on this incident. Cybercrime police in the Akmola region are currently conducting investigative and search operations.

Authorities emphasize that legitimate employees of banks, law enforcement agencies, or government bodies will never instruct citizens to take out loans or transfer money to so-called "secure accounts." Any request to keep a conversation secret, provide SMS codes, or share card details is a major red flag. In such cases, it is crucial to immediately end the call and independently contact the relevant organization using its official phone number.