The Main Department for Combating Cybercrime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan continues its operations to prevent cyber fraud, particularly cases involving the theft of personal data through instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp and various social networks.
This information was provided to the Operative Information Center-OMM by the ministry.
According to the report, the Cyber Police conducted successful operational-technical measures, resulting in the arrest of Elcan Jafarov, who is suspected of orchestrating these illicit activities.
Investigations revealed that the suspect created fraudulent social media pages that visually mimicked the official websites of non-bank credit institutions. To maximize the number of victims, Jafarov actively promoted these fake pages across social media platforms and WhatsApp groups. When citizens accessed these pages under the guise of applying for loans, they were prompted to input their bank card details, including card numbers, expiration dates, CVV codes, and OTP security codes.
Once victims provided this sensitive information, Jafarov transferred the funds from their bank accounts to third-party accounts and subsequently cashed them out.
A criminal case has been initiated by the Main Department. Jafarov has been charged, and a court has ordered his pre-trial detention. This incident highlights the growing importance of digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness in Azerbaijan, as authorities continue to warn citizens against sharing sensitive financial credentials on unverified platforms or suspicious links.
