SMS scam using Moroccan numbers targets car park users in Tashkent
"Boyutaxt Parking" company warns of fraudulent messages demanding payment of fictitious fines, originating from foreign numbers including Moroccan numbers.
Warning of fraudulent SMS messages using Moroccan numbers targeting car parks in Uzbekistan
"Boyutaxt Parking", the official operator of car parks in Tashkent, has issued an urgent warning regarding fraudulent text messages demanding that its users pay fictitious fines. According to Hespress, these messages can be traced to foreign telephone numbers, including Moroccan numbers.
The company has urged users to avoid clicking on any links embedded in these messages and not to disclose their banking data or vehicle registration plate information. It has advised those who have revealed their financial data to freeze their bank cards immediately, noting that verification of official fines occurs exclusively through its official application.
This phishing campaign comes in the context of a series of data breaches affecting Uzbekistan. In late last month, personal data of a large number of citizens were leaked, including national identity cards, passports, addresses and vehicle data, via specialised bots on the Telegram application, prompting the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service to launch a joint investigation.
These incidents are added to earlier reports from February, which revealed a massive breach affecting data of up to 15 million Uzbek citizens. Digital Technologies Minister Sherzodbek Shermatov recently confirmed that three government agencies' information systems were subjected to cyber attacks.
In response to these threats, the authorities announced the neutralisation of immediate dangers and mandated password resets across the country within the unified identification system "OneID", whilst urging citizens to strengthen their digital security practices.
Source: Hespress