Kazakhstan detains over 140 for allegedly selling citizens’ data via Telegram channels

Kazakh authorities said they busted a network that was using Telegram to illegally sell citizens’ personal data extracted from government databases.

More than 140 suspects were arrested in connection with the scheme, including business owners and alleged administrators of Telegram channels used to trade the stolen information, officials said on Monday.

Authorities reported that some of the extracted data was shared with debt collection agencies, several of which were searched during the operation. The government seized more than 400 computers and other electronic devices believed to have been used in the illegal activity.

If convicted, the suspects could face up to five years in prison and a fine.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs said it is continuing efforts to identify all parties involved and pledged to strengthen measures to protect digital privacy and combat the illicit trade in personal information.

Authorities also released a video showing armed officers storming several business centers, searching open-plan offices and escorting detained suspects onto a bus.

Illegal call centers — often unlicensed and operating without regulatory oversight — are common in Eastern Europe, including countries like Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. These centers frequently engage in fraudulent activities.

In April, police in Minsk detained employees of five fraudulent call centers that had been operating since 2022 under the guise of investment brokerages. The networks primarily targeted Russian citizens, promising high returns on cryptocurrency investments. In reality, victims lost their life savings.

In a separate case in December, Russian police uncovered three illegal call centers in Moscow that had defrauded tens of thousands of people across more than 20 countries in Europe and Asia.