Over the past five years, the number of cybercrimes in Uzbekistan increased 68-fold. Cases of theft and fraud involving bank cards have become the most common crimes, the Interior Ministry’s Cybercrime Center told Gazeta.uz during a press tour.

In 2024, the number of cybercrimes rose 9.1 times compared to 2023. During this period, the number of complaints from individuals and legal entities regarding offenses in cyberspace increased 34-fold.

Between 2021 and 2024, cybercrimes in Uzbekistan led to the theft of over 1.9 trillion soums ($148.9 million) from citizens, with damages in 2024 alone amounting to 603 billion soums ($47.3 million).

“In 2019, 863 crimes across 18 categories were committed using information technology. In 2024, that number grew to 58,800 crimes across 62 categories. There is a significant rise in the share of cybercrimes in overall crime statistics, making their prevention more urgent,” head of the center Bekzod Mamajanov stated.

According to him, cybercrime accounted for 6.2% of all crimes in 2023, but rose to 44.4% in 2024. The majority of cybercrimes (98%) are linked to bank cards, involving cyber theft and online fraud.

Cybercrimes are most commonly committed through the following methods:

  • 60% — by sending malicious links and software to gain control over bank cards or mobile devices;

  • 16% — by obtaining SMS codes to access bank card accounts and mobile apps through various forms of deception;

  • 4% — by taking out online loans in the names of citizens;

  • 11% — through fraud on online trading platforms;

  • 9% — through various scams aimed at extorting money from citizens.

The Cybercrime Center noted that a number of legal, organizational and technical measures were being implemented to prevent such crimes.

“With the widespread adoption of technology, cybercrime is becoming a complex transnational issue. Against this backdrop, raising public awareness about modern cyber threats and improving digital literacy is more important than ever,” Mamajanov stated.