The Main Department for Combating Cybercrime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has neutralized a hacker network responsible for creating fake phishing pages of banks and non-bank credit organizations.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the MIA reported that law enforcement conducted a specialized operation against individuals who shared low-interest loan advertisements on social media using fraudulent websites that visually mimicked official banking platforms.
As a result of operational-search measures, it was determined that the same methods were used to seize the card data of victims. During the ongoing measures, 23-year-old Kenan Gasimov and 30-year-old Imam Ishmammadov were detained on suspicion of committing cyber-fraud against approximately 500 individuals in a prior conspiracy.
The investigation revealed that the suspects deceived citizens through phishing pages with URLs similar to genuine internet addresses, convincing them of low-interest credit offers. Consequently, victims voluntarily provided their card details, including CVV and OTP security codes. Using this information, the perpetrators accessed the citizens' accounts and embezzled the funds.
To obscure their tracks, the obtained funds were transferred to illegal online casino games and various accounts before being cashed out. In their initial testimonies, the detained individuals confessed to seizing a total of nearly 400,000 AZN through these methods.
A criminal case has been initiated regarding the fact, and by court decision, a measure of restraint in the form of arrest has been chosen for K. Gasimov and I. Ishmammadov. The MIA has issued a warning to citizens in Azerbaijan, stating that credit and financial services should only be sought from entities licensed by the Central Bank. The ministry advised against clicking on suspicious links or sharing card information with third parties, recommending that any suspicious encounters be reported to the police immediately.
Cybersecurity remains a top priority for law enforcement in Azerbaijan as digital financial services continue to expand. The Ministry of Internal Affairs regularly updates its technical capabilities to track sophisticated digital fraud, emphasizing that public vigilance is the first line of defense against the growing global threat of phishing and social engineering attacks.
