Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Authorities in Uzbekistan have detained fraudsters who promised citizens employment in Croatia.

In Bukhara, a city resident born in 1997, previously convicted of fraud, posed as an employee of a travel company and convinced three citizens from Tashkent, the Tashkent region, and the Kashkadarya region to trust him. He claimed to have acquaintances in Croatia and demanded US$ 6,000 from each of them to arrange a work visa and employment in the country.

During an operation carried out jointly by the State Security Service (SSS) Directorate for Tashkent and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes (DCEC) in the Yakkasaray district, the fraudster was caught receiving an advance payment of US$ 3,000, with material evidence secured.

A similar incident was recorded in the Namangan region. A resident of Namangan, born in 1999, misled three compatriots by promising to arrange employment in Croatia through his brother, who was allegedly working there. He demanded US$ 2,600 from each, totaling US$ 7,800. The fraudster was detained in the Yangi-Namangan district after receiving an advance of US$ 3,900 by SSS and DCEC officers.

Criminal cases have been initiated against both offenders under Article 168 of the Criminal Code (Fraud), Part 2, Clause “a.” Investigations are ongoing.