Kazakhstan proposes ECO contact network to combat internet fraud

September 11, 2026 at 04:55 PM2 min

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Kazakhstan proposed a network of contact points under the ECO Secretariat to speed up information exchange on internet fraud at the 7th meeting of ECO prosecutors general in Turkestan on September 12, 2026. The meeting, chaired by Prosecutor General Berik Asylov, brought together prosecutors from nine ECO member states. Kazakhstan also presented its multi-level anti-fraud system, which has prevented over 700 fraudulent loans worth more than $850,000.

Key Facts

The 7th meeting of ECO prosecutors general was held in Turkestan on September 12, 2026, chaired by Kazakhstan's Prosecutor General Berik Asylov.
Kazakhstan proposed creating a network of contact points under the ECO Secretariat to accelerate information exchange on internet fraud.
Kazakhstan's anti-fraud measures prevented over 700 fraudulent loans worth more than $850,000.
In 2025–2026, cooperation with Ukraine, Armenia, and Belarus led to the shutdown of 11 foreign call centers and the arrest of 45 organizers.
The meeting was attended by prosecutors from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan.

The Turkestan Meeting

The 7th meeting of prosecutors general of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states took place in Turkestan on September 12, 2026. Kazakhstan's Prosecutor General Berik Asylov chaired the meeting. Participants included prosecutors from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan. The ECO Secretary General and a representative of the CIS Coordination Council of Prosecutors General also attended.

Kazakhstan's Anti-Fraud System

Kazakhstan presented its multi-level system for protecting citizens from internet fraud. The system includes biometric identification for online loans, a cooling-off period, voluntary loan refusal, telecom anti-fraud systems, and the National Anti-Fraud Center. These measures prevented the issuance of more than 700 fraudulent loans worth over $850,000. Over 600 money mules have been held accountable, and courts have satisfied claims for unjust enrichment totaling more than $12 million. A unified analytical platform for monitoring internet fraud operates at the Criminal Threat Forecasting Center, combining data from legal statistics, the banking sector, telecom operators, and law enforcement agencies.

Proposed Contact Network

Kazakhstan proposed creating a network of contact points of central authorities of ECO member states under the ECO Secretariat. The network would accelerate information exchange on criminals, enable rapid response to suspicious transactions, and support joint investigative teams. Kazakhstan called for moving from formal mutual legal assistance procedures to more operational interaction. The proposed mechanisms received support from meeting participants.