Baku:Azerbaijani and Ukrainian police have executed a joint operation resulting in the detention and extradition of internationally wanted cyberfraud suspects to Azerbaijan. These individuals orchestrated a network that deceived Azerbaijani citizens by posing as law enforcement officers and stealing their money.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, the damage from cybercrime has globally increased by 75% over the past five years, affecting economies worldwide, including Azerbaijan. The cross-border nature of these crimes necessitates international cooperation in combating them. The operation revealed that the cyberfraud network targeted Azerbaijani citizens from Ukraine, using call centers that impersonated official service offices.
The operation uncovered that call centers in Ukrainian cities recruited members through job ads on Telegram, promising high salaries in IT and customer service. These centers used scripts and psychological manipulation to trick Azerbaijani citizens into disclosing sensitive financial information by posing as officials from various institutions. Fraudulent investment offers were also used to lure victims.
The operation, in collaboration with Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, led to the arrest of 11 individuals, including key organizers Nariman Isgandarov, Elsun Aliyev, Elshad Musayev, and Elshan Shukurov. Others, such as Ruslan Zakirov and Yasaf Bayramov, facilitated laundering of the stolen funds by converting them into cryptocurrency and transferring them abroad.
Legal proceedings have commenced with pre-trial detention ordered for the group’s leaders, while investigations continue for the remaining suspects. The Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasized the importance of citizen vigilance against cybercrime tactics, urging caution with suspicious job offers and protecting personal financial information.
This operation highlights the significance of international cooperation and citizen awareness in tackling global cybercrime threats. Further information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding the operation is anticipated.
Source Azeri-Press news agency