The Main Department for Combating Cybercrime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan has detained two individuals suspected of committing large-scale cyber fraud by impersonating banks and non-bank credit organizations (NBCOs). According to the Ministry's press service, the suspects, identified as 24-year-old Javid Agayev and 20-year-old Elshan Agayev, were apprehended following a targeted operation.
In a statement provided to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the MIA revealed that the suspects created fraudulent social media profiles mimicking official financial institutions to attract customers through paid advertisements. Posing as loan officers, they promised victims "favorable terms, low commissions, and loans without guarantors." Believing the pages to be authentic, victims shared sensitive information, including card expiration dates, CVV, and OTP security codes. The stolen data allowed the network to transfer funds to various bank accounts and electronic wallets before withdrawing the cash.
A criminal case has been initiated by the Main Department. Javid Agayev has been formally charged and placed in pre-trial detention by court order, while investigative actions regarding Elshan Agayev are ongoing. The MIA has urged citizens in Azerbaijan to remain vigilant and only trust financial institutions licensed by the Central Bank. This operation is part of a broader effort by Azerbaijani law enforcement to combat the rising trend of digital financial crimes and protect the country's banking sector from sophisticated phishing attacks.
