Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A group of scammers was detained in Uzbekistan, who called pensioners, posing as their children and claiming that they were in trouble and needed money, the press service of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate said.

Earlier, a message appeared on social networks that scammers are actively calling older people, posing as their relatives who have been involved in an accident, and leading them into a state of panic.

Scammers, knowing that the elderly person has an adult child, call and claim that he or she has been in an accident and needs urgent financial assistance.

Sometimes a woman calls, pretending to be her daughter, and, sobbing, claims that she has a broken lip, which distorts her voice. Then the scammers offer to come and pick up money and things for the hospital.

The scheme involves real couriers in medical masks and wigs who come to collect money and things for the alleged victim. They try to isolate the victim from contact with relatives so that they are unable to contact anyone from the family.

One of the injured women spoke about an incident that happened to her on 28 March. They called her on a landline phone and started crying into the receiver. Then a man who introduced himself as a nurse took over the conversation and said that the situation was very serious.

“Your daughter is to blame for the accident. She was crossing the road in the wrong place, and to avoid being hit, the driver turned and crashed into a pole. If you do not reach an agreement, your daughter faces a prison sentence of three to five years. Take a bag, put a towel, sheet, duvet cover, pillow and pillowcase. Place US$5,000 in a pillowcase. We’ll call a car now,” the scammers told the woman.

It is reported that several couriers were detained. Among them are citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

As we receive information about new cases of fraud, victims are advised to immediately hang up and call their family. You should also remain calm and ask the caller clarifying questions.

The report notes that the investigator will not call to resolve the problem, as all investigations are carried out in accordance with the law.

Law enforcement agencies opened criminal cases under Article 168 (fraud). An investigation is underway.