Uzbek citizens have lost a total of 159 million US dollars from their personal accounts as a result of cyber fraud over the past five years. This figure indicates that the threat to digital financial security in the country is growing seriously.
Statistical analyses show an alarming trend. In 2019, law enforcement agencies recorded only 863 cases of cybercrime, whereas by 2024, this number had reached 58,800.
That is, the number of such crimes has increased 68-fold. 98 percent of these crimes involve fraudulent operations with bank cards.
Demographic analyses show that people aged 45 to 70 are more likely to fall victim to fraud. This is due to their low level of digital literacy and excessive trustfulness.
Fraudsters try to obtain confidential information using phishing links, malicious .apk files, and social engineering techniques. In response to this, the Cybersecurity Center under the Department of Operational-Search Activities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is constantly working to reduce cyber risks and take countermeasures.
However, specialists at the ministry emphasize that technical measures are not enough; it is important for citizens themselves to raise their awareness. Experts strongly advise not to install software from suspicious sources, not to follow unknown links, and not to discuss personal financial information over the phone with unfamiliar individuals.
Today, on November 3, 2025, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the launch of a "Cyber Culture Awareness Month." This initiative aims to widely inform citizens about safe behavior rules on the Internet.
Representatives of the ministry emphasize that returning stolen funds is extremely difficult and, in most cases, impossible, which makes preventive measures the main line of defense. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is also preparing a special report.
This report will publish a list of banks and fintech organizations affected by cybercrimes due to deficiencies in the protection of client data. This list is expected to negatively impact the reputation of financial institutions and further motivate improvements in information security.
