Kazakhstan Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
A guide to scams in Kazakhstan, from Almaty tourist fraud to online investment and telephone scams.
Emergency number: 102 (police), 112 (emergency) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Kazakhstan is Central Asia's largest economy, and its fraud scene orbits one app: Kaspi, the super-app through which much of the country shops, transfers and borrows. The dominant crime is the telephone scam, run in Russian and Kazakh by callers posing as Kaspi or Halyk Bank security, police investigators or the prosecutor's office, who convince victims their savings are 'under attack' and must be moved to a safe account — or worse, that they must take out loans in the app to 'trap the criminals', leaving victims with both empty accounts and real debt. SIM-swap attacks and phishing pages imitating Kaspi.kz round out the digital assault, and fraudulent loans issued against stolen identity data are a recurring national problem.
Investment fraud borrows official clothing — fake platforms claim Astana International Financial Centre registration — while Telegram and WhatsApp carry task scams and 'trading signals' groups, and OLX-style marketplaces are worked with fake courier payment links against sellers. Tourists in Almaty and Astana face milder, familiar risks: airport taxi overcharging, unofficial currency kiosks with hidden commission, counterfeit event tickets and pickpockets around the Green Bazaar and Arbat.
Kazakhstan has invested heavily in fraud prevention — a national call-filtering system blocks fraudulent calls at massive scale — and operates integrated reporting via egov.kz and the SOS 102 platform. Kaspi and Halyk both run around-the-clock in-app fraud reporting; use it within minutes, not hours, when money moves.
Common scams
- Telephone impersonation fraud by callers posing as bank staff or police officers
- Online investment and crypto fraud promoted through social media
- Fake job offers requiring advance payment for documents or training
- SIM-swap fraud targeting mobile banking users
Tourist-specific scams
- Taxi overcharging at Almaty and Astana airports
- Unofficial currency exchange kiosks offering inflated rates
- Counterfeit tickets for events and transport
- Pickpocketing at Almaty's Arbat pedestrian street and Green Bazaar
Online shopping scams
- Phishing impersonating Halyk Bank, Kaspi Bank and government services
- Fake e-commerce listings on Kazakh marketplaces not delivering goods
- Investment fraud platforms using Astana International Financial Centre branding
Job scams
- Overseas job offers requiring upfront visa and processing fees
- Task scams on Telegram and WhatsApp promising easy online income
- Fake remote 'marketplace assistant' roles harvesting identity documents
Romance scams
- Extended online relationships leading to requests for money transfers
- Pig-butchering scams combining romance with fake investment platforms
- Hijacked messaging accounts asking the victim's contacts for urgent loans
Investment scams
- Fraudulent Forex and crypto platforms falsely claiming AIFC registration
- Pyramid schemes spread through community and social networks
- Phone scripts pressuring victims to take out app-based loans and transfer the proceeds
How to report a scam here
- Call 102 (police) or 112 (emergency) to report fraud
- File an online report via the eGov portal at egov.kz or through the Qamqor system
- Contact your bank immediately — Kaspi Bank and Halyk Bank both have 24/7 fraud lines
- Preserve all evidence including call recordings, screenshots and transaction receipts
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your bank immediately to freeze accounts, as Kaspi Bank and Halyk Bank both run 24 hour fraud lines and in-app fraud reporting. Reach them through the app or the number on your card, never a number a caller gives you. Say plainly that you were deceived into authorising the payment, ask for it to be stopped and the receiving account reported, and note the reference. If you were pressured into taking out an in-app loan and transferring the proceeds, tell the bank exactly that — it changes how the case is investigated and what relief is possible. If your SIM may have been swapped, have the operator lock the number the same hour. Obtain a police case number via egov.kz to support your formal dispute, and mention any one-time codes or PINs you read out so credentials are fully reset.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
How does Kazakhstan fight phone fraud?
Kazakhstan operates a national call-filtering system that blocked nearly 85 million fraudulent calls in 2025. Despite this, telephone impersonation fraud remains the most common scam. If someone calls claiming to be from your bank or the police and asks for a code, PIN or transfer — hang up and call the official number on your card or statement.
What is the 'safe account' loan scam in Kazakhstan?
Callers posing as bank security or police convince victims that criminals are taking loans in their name, and that the only defence is to take out the loans first via the banking app and transfer the money to a 'safe account'. Both the savings and the borrowed money go to the fraudsters, and the debt remains. No bank or police force ever directs customers to take loans or move money by phone.
How do I protect my Kaspi account?
Never read out SMS codes or app PINs to anyone, enable every additional confirmation the app offers, and treat calls from 'Kaspi security' as fraudulent by default — real issues appear inside the app itself. If your phone number suddenly loses service, contact your operator immediately, as a SIM swap may be in progress.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance