Kazakhstan Blocked Nearly 85 Million Fraudulent Phone Calls in 2025
Kazakhstan's law enforcement agencies intercepted approximately 85 million fraudulent phone calls in 2025, according to Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov, as the Central Asian nation escalates its fight against cybercrime and financial fraud targeting citizens. The announcement, made during a Ministry of Internal Affairs meeting, highlighted the closure of 13 call centers—including operations located abroad—and the launch of 56 criminal cases against individuals facilitating internet fraud through so-called 'dropperism.'
Background and Context
The massive scale of phone fraud interception reflects Kazakhstan's growing digital transformation and accompanying security challenges. As the nation expands its digital services infrastructure, including the eGov Mobile platform and banking applications, authorities have simultaneously ramped up technological defenses against sophisticated criminal networks. The Interior Ministry's efforts are part of a broader strategy to modernize law enforcement capabilities while protecting increasingly digitized citizen services from exploitation by transnational criminal enterprises.
Key Figures and Entities
Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov announced the anti-fraud measures, emphasizing that systematic work continues to combat cybercrime and internet fraud. According to the Ministry, the blocked calls helped prevent significant financial losses and reduced citizen exposure to fraudulent schemes. The operation targeted individuals involved in 'dropperism'—a practice where intermediaries receive and transfer illicit funds on behalf of online fraudsters. The newly established Department of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence within the Ministry oversees these technological countermeasures, integrating smart technologies into routine law enforcement operations.
Legal and Financial Mechanisms
Kazakhstan's anti-fraud infrastructure combines technological interception with legal prosecution mechanisms. The country recently signed the United Nations Convention on Combating Cybercrime, which Minister Sadenov says will strengthen international cooperation in addressing cross-border digital crimes. The 'Law and Order' service, integrated into eGov Mobile, Kaspi.kz, and Halyk Bank applications, provides citizens with direct channels to report offenses and submit evidence through text, voice, photo, and video messages. Each report automatically registers in the Ministry's information system, with users receiving real-time updates on their submissions' status.
International Implications and Policy Response
The interception of 85 million fraudulent calls underscores the global nature of cybercrime and the necessity for coordinated international responses. By joining the UN cybercrime convention, Kazakhstan positions itself within emerging frameworks for cross-border digital crime prevention and prosecution. The closure of call centers located abroad demonstrates the transnational reach of these criminal operations and the challenges faced by individual nations in combating them effectively. The National Video Monitoring System and Safe City initiative represent Kazakhstan's investment in predictive policing and public safety technologies that could serve as models for other developing digital economies facing similar threats.
Sources
This report draws on statements from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Internal Affairs, reporting by The Times of Central Asia, and documentation regarding the United Nations Convention on Combating Cybercrime. Information about Kazakhstan's digital transformation initiatives comes from official government sources and public statements made in January 2026.
