Kazakh Woman Extradited From Kyrgyzstan Over Alleged Bank Fraud Scheme

Kyrgyzstan extradited a Kazakh woman back to her home country where she is accused of orchestrating a large-scale bank fraud scheme that deprived in 2023 victims of nearly $440,000. 

Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office announced on Monday that the woman is suspected of being part of an organized group that used fake identity requests to access private bank accounts. 

The group allegedly targeted a bank in Almaty by posing as legitimate clients and submitting fraudulent requests to change the phone numbers linked to the bank accounts, effectively bypassing two-factor authentication security systems.

Once control over the accounts was secured, the suspects accessed them remotely and transferred funds to accounts held by so-called “droppers” - individuals recruited to receive and launder stolen money. The scheme was carried out entirely without direct contact with the victims, prosecutors said.

The suspect was detained in January 2025 at the airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital. Following Kazakhstan’s extradition request, Kyrgyz authorities approved her transfer. She was taken into custody upon arrival in Kazakhstan and remains in pretrial detention.

Prosecutors say the case is part of a broader investigation into organized cybercrime. Under Kazakh law, large-scale fraud committed by an organized group is punishable by five to ten years in prison, along with potential confiscation of illicit assets.

Cyber-enabled fraud is on the rise in Kazakhstan. According to the Eurasian Research Institute, more than 32,000 cases were reported in 2023, with over 80% involving social engineering methods like SIM-swap attacks. Losses from such schemes topped 14 billion tenge ($26.8 million) in just the first half of 2024.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the woman’s accomplices have been identified or apprehended. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are possible.