A woman who posed as a lawyer on social media has been arrested for allegedly defrauding 145 individuals of a total of 449,916 manats, according to official reports from law enforcement agencies in Azerbaijan.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Jasarat Gambarli, an official of the Press Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), stated that the suspect, Sabiyya Panaliyeva, operated through the TikTok platform. Panaliyeva reportedly created pages under the name "Legal Center" and used live broadcasts to attract followers, subsequently exploiting the trust of citizens for financial gain.
Following investigative measures conducted by the Yasamal District Police Department, Panaliyeva was charged under the relevant article of the Criminal Code, and a court-ordered measure of detention was implemented. During the investigation, it was determined that 381,529 manats of the total material damage has already been repaid. The preliminary investigation into the criminal case is ongoing, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs has urged any other potential victims to contact the relevant authorities.
Cybercrime and social media fraud have become increasing concerns for law enforcement in Azerbaijan. The Ministry of Internal Affairs regularly conducts awareness campaigns to warn citizens against sharing personal information or transferring funds to unverified individuals claiming to provide professional services online. Under Azerbaijani law, fraud involving large-scale damage carries significant prison sentences and mandatory restitution of stolen assets.
