“A loan has been issued in your name” - National Bank addresses Kazakhstanis

Tengrinews.kz — Scammers have devised a new scheme to defraud Kazakhstanis by using threats of unauthorized loans and digital powers of attorney. Under the pretext of protecting funds, criminals convince victims to disclose confidential data and transfer money to so-called "safe accounts", citing the National Bank.
How the new scheme works
The scam begins with messages allegedly sent from digital government services or commercial banks. These messages claim that a digital power of attorney has been issued in the recipient's name and is being used by third parties, or that a loan application has been approved.
To resolve the situation, the recipient is prompted to call a provided number. This is where the next stage of the deception begins.

"The primary goal of such messages is to cause anxiety and provoke the individual into calling the specified number. During the conversation, the scammers offer to 'cancel the power of attorney,' 'block the loan application,' or 'secure the funds,'" the National Bank warned.

Subsequently, the criminals may pose as employees of the National Bank, special government agencies, or law enforcement. They claim that illegal activities are being carried out in the citizen's name: loans are being taken out, companies are being registered, suspicious financial transactions are being conducted, or attempts are being made to steal funds.
Under the guise of preventing these actions, they attempt to obtain SMS codes, bank card details, and other confidential information. In some cases, victims are persuaded to install remote access applications on their phones or transfer money to so-called "safe," "reserve," or "savings" accounts.
National Bank recommendations
The National Bank emphasized that employees of banks, special government agencies, and law enforcement do not request bank card details, SMS codes, or PINs. They also do not suggest transferring money to "safe accounts" or require the installation of remote access applications on mobile devices.
If you receive a suspicious message, do not call the number provided, do not click on any links, and do not follow instructions from unknown individuals.
To verify information regarding loans or digital powers of attorney, contact the official call center of the relevant bank or digital government service.
Those who have fallen victim to scammers are strongly advised to contact law enforcement authorities. For consultation, you can also reach the National Bank's contact center at 1477.
As a reminder, Tengrinews.kz previously reported on another scam where fraudsters call Kazakhstanis posing as executives or colleagues, later requesting bank details, codes, or other information via messaging apps. More details on how that scheme works and what to watch out for can be found here.