30.05.2025 18:18:00
Дата публикации
Mobile balance top-ups in Kazakhstan will soon be subject to state financial monitoring. The relevant measure is included in a draft law on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, currently under discussion in the Mazhilis. The details of the initiative were announced by Deputy Chairman of the Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) Zhenis Yelemesov.
The amendments propose adding telecom operators to the list of financial monitoring entities, alongside stock brokers, clearing organizations, and the state corporation "Government for Citizens." These steps aim to increase the transparency of digital transactions and enhance oversight of financial flows.
Telecom companies will be required to provide data on large balance top-ups and other transactions that may indicate potential money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. The system will be focused on identifying suspicious payments.
The FMA plans to pay particular attention to payments made by youth aged 14 to 25 without verified sources of income. This demographic is most often targeted by financial fraud, especially on gaming and streaming platforms that actively use mobile payments.
The new changes are part of a comprehensive approach to digital security. In addition to mobile payments, financial monitoring will extend to real estate transactions over 50 million tenge and certain nonprofit organizations.
The FMA will receive expanded powers to analyze transactions and respond to suspicious activity. This is expected to help identify schemes involving the cashing-out of funds through non-cash channels or using mobile accounts to transfer money to third parties.
Telecom industry representatives have not officially commented on the initiative, but previously emphasized the importance of cooperation with state bodies to improve digital safety and protect users from phishing and SMS fraud.
Control measures over mobile payments also align with Kazakhstan’s new Law and Order Concept for 2025–2030, which highlights the need to combat cybercrime, online radicalization, and internet fraud.
In this context, monitoring mobile transactions becomes part of a broader digital security strategy.
(automated translation)
