In the last five years, the level of cybercrime in Uzbekistan has sharply increased and multiplied by 68 times. This was reported by Upl.uz.
According to the information presented at the CyberWeek forum held in Samarkand, approximately 44 percent of the crimes registered in the country since the beginning of 2024 have been committed using digital technologies and communication tools. During a session dedicated to the security of financial ecosystems, representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the national payment system Uzcard analyzed the current situation and emphasized that the risk factors have shifted from traditional directions to human factors.
Experts believe that the main threat is not from complex hacking attacks, but rather from social engineering methods targeting ordinary citizens. In his speech, Uzcard's Deputy Director for Information Security Botirjon Shoqamov drew attention to the psychological aspects of modern crimes.
He stated: “If a person willingly gives a secret code received via SMS to a fraudster, even the most sophisticated security system cannot prevent the theft of funds. The main and most reliable barrier must be formed in the person's mind.” Analyses show that direct technical attacks on systems are quite rare.
More often, criminals exert psychological pressure, presenting themselves as bank employees, law enforcement officers, or utility service workers. They distribute fraudulent links, obtain personal information through fake websites, and arrange microloans and consumer loans in the name of the victims.
According to Shoqamov, “The main difference is that while hackers attack systems, fraudsters attack people, their trust, and negligence. Therefore, we are paying special attention not only to strengthening technical protection measures but also to teaching cardholders to think critically when using digital services.” This problem is not only local.
In the global process of digital transformation, while the administration of US President Donald Trump emphasized the need to strengthen the national “cyber shield,” many countries are facing similar issues. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Uzcard have launched a large-scale information campaign aimed at increasing cybersecurity literacy.
These events particularly focus on the populations of Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana regions, and the Republic of Karakalpakstan. These areas were chosen because, according to law enforcement agencies, the highest number of reports of digital fraud victims come from these places.
The events are conducted in cooperation with local government bodies, ensuring broad community engagement. The term “social engineering” was popularized by one of the most famous hackers in history, Kevin Mitnick, who emphasized that obtaining a password by deceiving a person over the phone is much easier than hacking.
