Two illegal call centers shut down in Tashkent: 72 people detained

Tashkent police have shut down two illegal call centers linked to online fraud and illegal financial operations. Seventy-two people were detained, and the volume of crypto operations linked to the groups is estimated at $576,000, the capital's police department reported.

Both centers operated in the Mirabad district and were identified by officers of the cybercrime unit. The first was located in a private house on Fargona-1 Street, rented for $9,000. During the operation there, 52 people were detained. According to law enforcement, members of the group carried out illegal bank card operations in the interests of underground online casinos and illegal bookmakers. During the search, $110,000 in cash, 71 laptops, 278 mobile phones and three Starlink satellite terminals were seized.

The second call center was found in premises on Katta Mirabad Street, rented for $2,000. Another 20 people were there. Investigators believe this group was engaged in online fraud: its members posed as women, met men online, gained their trust and asked for money under various pretexts. Twenty-four laptops, a tablet, 52 mobile phones and four Wi-Fi routers were seized.

According to police, both groups operated an internal hierarchy with roles distributed among managers, supervisors, operators and security guards. A criminal case has been opened under Article 278-8 of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code, on violations of legislation on crypto-assets. The investigation continues.

The police department urged property owners to check the activities of tenants and to formalize rental agreements in the prescribed manner, warning that providing premises to criminal groups may entail legal liability.