In Tashkent region, a group that defrauded more than 400 citizens with interest-free loans and embezzled 17 billion soums has been exposed

In Tashkent region, a group that deceived more than 400 citizens with interest-free loans and embezzled 17 billion soums has been identified

In Tashkent region, a criminal group that promised citizens to obtain interest-free loans and registered loans in the names of more than 400 people has been exposed. The fraudsters embezzled a portion of the allocated funds, with the damage caused amounting to nearly 17 billion soums.

During operations conducted by officers of the Department for Combating Crimes in the Sphere of Information Technologies of the Regional Main Department of Internal Affairs, it was revealed that the group members had been posting advertisements on the internet offering to "obtain interest-free loans."

The individuals invited citizens interested in the advertisement to pre-rented luxury offices and offered to register the loans in their names. In return, they embezzled a certain portion of the allocated funds.

In particular, citizens were promised that a loan of 100 million soums would be registered for them, 50 million soums of which would be handed over to them, while the remaining 50 million soums would stay with the company, and the fraudsters themselves would make the loan payments.

Believing the false promises, citizens registered the loans using their phones. As a result, loans were allocated in the names of more than 400 citizens, and exactly half of the funds were embezzled by the fraudsters. The total amount of embezzled funds reached nearly 17 billion soums.

After some time, banks began sending demands to the citizens to recover the loan debts. A criminal case has been initiated regarding the situation under Article 168 of the Criminal Code, i.e., fraud.

During the pre-investigation check and operational measures, 6 members of the criminal group were detained as suspects and taken into custody. Currently, investigative actions regarding the criminal case are ongoing.

The Main Department of Internal Affairs urged citizens to be cautious of offers on the internet such as "interest-free loans," "very low-interest loans," and "loans without documents." Even if it is promised that the loan will be paid by other persons, if it is registered in the citizen's name, the obligation to the bank remains with them.

Earlier, it was reported that individuals who fraudulently obtained 574.6 million soums from citizens in the Uchtepa district of Tashkent were exposed. A criminal case was initiated regarding this situation under Article 168 (fraud) of the Criminal Code, and investigative actions have begun.