Senator Evgeny Bolgert stated during a plenary session of the chamber that internet fraud is one of the most common types of crimes in Kazakhstan. He proposed new measures to combat this type of crime.
Evgeny Bolgert revealed that 9462 cases of internet fraud have been registered in Kazakhstan over the past six months. He emphasized that internet fraud is one of the most widespread types of crimes in Kazakhstan, accounting for 15% of the overall crime rate. Over the past seven years, the number of such crimes has increased more than tenfold. Last year alone, citizens suffered damage amounting to over 21 billion tenge. Common methods of committing internet fraud include posting knowingly false online ads for goods and services, as well as stealing money from citizens' accounts by posing as bank or law enforcement officials, the senator stated.
Referring to data from the MCRIAP, the senator mentioned that Kazakhstan has over 1.5 million operators with access to personal data. He highlighted the need to strengthen the accountability for the security of personal information due to regular data breaches. The proposal is to tighten control over compliance with requirements for the collection, processing, storage, and protection of personal data. Moreover, suggestions will be made to increase operators' responsibility for ensuring the security of this information.
The senator also suggested developing a comprehensive program document to enhance the financial and digital literacy of the population, taking into account new challenges. This includes the development and implementation of a new subject, "Financial Literacy," into the school curriculum.
On March 5, 2024, changes to the rules on personal data protection in Kazakhstan were announced, signaling a significant step towards addressing internet fraud and enhancing data security measures in the country.
