Cashback fraud: Fake receipts used to steal another 1.4 billion soums from the state budget

A group of individuals in Tashkent has been exposed for allegedly stealing 1.4 billion soums from the state budget by using fake receipts to obtain cashback payments, the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the Prosecutor General’s Office reported.

According to the department, a pre-investigation inquiry conducted jointly by its Mirzo Ulugbek district office and employees of the Tax Committee found that individuals responsible for the companies “E.P.”, “M.M.”, and “E.S.” LLCs had colluded to falsify information about the alleged supply of goods worth 322.4 billion soums.

The investigation found that they also processed proceeds from sales through cash register systems, issued 3,363 purchase receipts allegedly showing sales to citizens, and transferred cashback payments through the Soliq Mobile application to individuals included in the social protection registry. As a result, they allegedly embezzled 1.4 billion soums in budget funds.

A criminal case has been initiated under Article 167 of the Criminal Code (embezzlement or misappropriation through theft) and Article 228 (production, forgery, sale, or use of forged documents, stamps, seals, and forms). Investigative proceedings are currently underway.

Earlier, individuals in Jizzakh region were identified for allegedly misappropriating 1.9 billion soums in state budget funds through fake purchase receipts.