Underground “cyber bunker” used for fraudulent activities uncovered in Chilanzar

A hidden call center described as a “cyber bunker,” which had been engaged in fraud, was identified in Chilanzar District. The Tashkent City Main Department of Internal Affairs reported the discovery.

According to the report, an оператив operation revealed the illegal call center operating in the basement of a multi-storey residential building in Chilanzar District.

It was established that a man born in 1994, residing in Andijan Region and previously convicted twice under Article 168 of the Criminal Code (fraud), along with his accomplices, contacted citizens by phone and falsely informed them that they had won prizes in promotional games. The group also registered themselves as product suppliers on online trading platforms.

Some customers who demanded delivery of products or complained about their orders were deliberately sent extremely cheap, low-quality goods or items that did not match the order at all. In this way, the perpetrators distracted victims and fully exploited their allocated credit or microloan limits.

Investigations found that 16 operators were working at the cyber bunker established in Chilanzar District. Posing as representatives of fake online stores on social media, they contacted hundreds of citizens and, prior to the initial investigation, unlawfully appropriated more than 200 million soums from 50 individuals.

During the operation, 22 computer units, mobile phones, SIM cards, bank cards, as well as lists containing fully recorded personal and financial data of more than 2,500 citizens were documented as material evidence.

Based on complaints filed by more than 50 individuals, criminal cases have been initiated under Article 168, Part 3, clauses “b” and “g” of the Criminal Code (fraud), and investigative actions are currently under way.

It is worth noting that earlier reports stated that an environmental official in Tashkent Region had been detained while receiving $3,000 in exchange for granting permission to cut down long-standing trees.

Alikulov Javohir