OREANDA-NEWS. September 21, 2009. Due to the increase of telephone fraud cases, AsiaUniversalBank is launching the new version of the system "Master of Payments". The characteristic feature of this version is the continually updated list of "suspicious" cell numbers that are used by telephone fraudsters. This measure has been created principally to protect citizens from telephone fraud, reported the press-centre of AsiaUniversalBank.

After careful screening, if the fraud case is confirmed, such number will be included in the "black list" of the system. When one tries to fill up deposit of a cell phone from the "black list", the screen of the payment terminal will show the warning "The number you have entered is under suspicion of fraud. Would you like to proceed with the payment?"/ The system does not prohibit from making payments or restrict the servicing of "suspicious" numbers, it only gives an opportunity to consider once again– "Do I know well the person whose cell phone deposit I am going to fill up?". AUB hopes that this measure would decrease the number of telephone fraud victims.

Mr. Kubanychbek Zakenaev, Head of Information Security Department of OJSC AsiaUniversalBank comments on the situation: “AUB regularly receives complaints about telephone fraud cases. Quite often unsuspecting citizens fall victims of fraud, fill up deposits of cell phones of fraudsters, and then come to us to receive the promised prize. We cannot forbid them to obey the fraudsters' instructions; however, we can use our payment terminals to alert the public to possible fraud. Based on complaints from the general public, we compiled a list of telephone numbers used in fraud. Certainly, if there are inaccuracies, then a telephone number included in such "black list" under suspicion of telephone fraud can be removed from the list following a strictly formalized procedure”.

The groups of fraudsters, offering the subscribers of mobile network operators to put the money to a particular cell number, call on behalf of government and commercial entities: they introduce themselves as officers of financial police, office of public prosecutor, or as representatives of well-renowned banks and recognized companies. As a prerequisite of receiving prizes from promotional deals and sweepstakes abusers request to replenish a particular cell number account, or buy a prepaid scratch cell card and tell its PIN number. Such calls would have never originated from the real entities the fraudsters are impersonating, and none of the victims has ever received a promised prize.

Telephone fraud emerged with development of communication networks, and recently it is recognized as an organized criminal business widely spread all over the world. There are special terms for cellular fraud such as machinations with contracts and accounts, theft and cloning of cellular phones and various sophisticated ways of deception of the cellular companies and individuals who use their services.

Telephone fraudsters at times use as a cover the AsiaUniversalBank brand. AsiaUniversalBank has raised the public awareness on such cases. It is notable that the banking legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic prohibits the banks to conduct sweepstakes or cash and prize lotteries, however quite often the fraudsters achieve their objectives and make profit on credulity of certain people. AUB utilized its own resources and conducted a public awareness campaign in the regions and the capital city of the Kyrgyz Republic. It has published in a number of mass media outlets warnings that AUB does not conduct sweepstakes or cash and prize lotteries, arranged for TV news on increasing incidence of telephone fraud cases. Such information briefs have been circulated to the clients, and placed in front offices on all AUB branches.

AsiaUniversalBank urges the citizens to support information cooperation, to unite the efforts to have the most comprehensive "black list" and to oppose telephone fraud. AUB will process only personified calls to include a reported number in the "black list" after a thorough screening by AUB Security Department. If you encounter any telephone fraud, please report such case by calling AUB at twenty-four-hour information division, tel.: (312) 55-44-44.