The National Bank of Kazakhstan reported a surge in fraud schemes where attackers send fake letters purportedly from the central bank, asking recipients to transfer money allegedly to secure its refund or register money transfers.
Fraudsters use official NBK letterheads and pose as employees of the central bank or Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency. In these letters, they claim the recipient has fallen victim to fraud or notify them of an incoming money transfer, demanding a payment allegedly to register and declare the funds. The digital signature and official seal on the documents do not meet regulatory standards.
The National Bank reiterated that it does not service accounts of individuals, declare funds, or conduct financial settlements with the general public. The bank does not correspond with individuals via messaging apps, email, or social media. When encountering such scams, the NBK advises contacting law enforcement or calling the central bank’s contact center at 1477.