“Safe Account”: How This Scam Works

Fraudulent scheme involving so-called “safe accounts” is becoming increasingly common in Kazakhstan. Scammers call people claiming their money is at risk and persuade them to transfer their savings to a supposedly “safe” account to protect them. In reality, the account belongs to the scammers, and any money transferred to it comes entirely under their control. Although older people are most frequently targeted, however younger Kazakhstanis also fall victim to this scam. Bank CenterCredit explains how this scheme works and what you should do to protect your savings.

Why “Safe Accounts” Do Not Exist

Banks do not have, and cannot have, special “safe”, “secure”, “protected”, or “reserve” accounts to which customers are asked to transfer their own money for safekeeping.

Bank CenterCredit emphasizes that any request to transfer your own funds to a “safe account” is a scam, not a security measure.

How the Scam Works

Scammers typically follow a well-rehearsed script.

• First, they call pretending to be from a medical clinic, a utility company replacing meters, or an online marketplace regarding an order, and ask the victim to provide an SMS verification code. After obtaining the code, the call ends.
• Later, another scammer calls, pretending to be a bank employee, police officer, or security specialist, claiming that someone is trying to steal money from your account, a loan is being taken out in your name, your personal data has been compromised, or your account is at risk.
• To increase pressure, they create a sense of urgency, insisting that immediate action is required to avoid losing your money.
• Scammers often warn victims in advance that the bank may contact them regarding the suspicious transaction, which is true because the bank's fraud monitoring systems detect unusual activity. They instruct victims to tell the bank that the transfer is legitimate and that the money is being sent to a relative or friend, preventing the bank from blocking the transaction.
• The scammers then claim that the only solution is to transfer the funds to a “safe account”, where the money will supposedly remain protected during the investigation.

In reality, the funds are transferred directly to accounts controlled by the scammers. Once transferred, recovering the money is extremely difficult.

Warning Signs

If you hear any of the following during a phone call, end the conversation immediately:

• “Transfer your money to a safe account immediately”
• “We've opened a secure account for you”
• “Your money must be protected until the investigation is complete”
• “Don't tell anyone about this conversation”
• “Follow our instructions and don't hang up”
• “Take out a loan before the scammers do”
• “Transfer the money yourself through your mobile banking app”

Any of these phrases is a strong indicator of fraud.

What the Bank Will Never Do

• ask you to transfer your money to another account for “protection”;
• ask you to take out a loan to safeguard your funds;
• ask you to install third-party applications;
• require you to keep a conversation confidential;
• pressure you or rush you into making a decision.

How to Protect Yourself

If someone calls claiming there are suspicious transactions on your account, Bank CenterCredit recommends that you:

• end the call immediately, even if the caller sounds convincing or claims to represent an official organization;
• call the Bank yourself using the phone number listed on the official website;
• never transfer money to any so-called “special” or “safe” account;
• never disclose SMS codes, PINs, CVV codes, or passwords for your mobile banking app;
• contact the Bank only through its official communication channels if you have any doubts.

Bank CenterCredit reminds you that only you decide what happens to your money, and any decisions should be made directly with the Bank, without intermediaries, “special investigations”, or urgent phone calls requesting transfers.

The Key Message

Safe accounts do not exist. If someone asks you to transfer your money to “protect” or “save” it, they are trying to steal it. The best protection is to end the call immediately and contact the Bank directly using its official contact details.