Baku, July 13 — Azerbaijani national Nihad Hajiev has been arrested by the decision of the Sabail District Court in Baku on charges related to a broad cybercrime investigation led by the State Security Service (SSS).
According to authorities, Hajiev was a key figure in a cybercriminal group that managed darknet platforms, illegally sold personal data, and orchestrated attacks on Azerbaijani news websites, including Xeberoxu.az. The group allegedly hijacked control of these platforms, altered news content, and distributed malware through fake mobile apps such as Çarxla Qazan.apk and Paypal.apk.
The SSS reported that Hajiev and his associates used phishing schemes to collect personal data by creating counterfeit websites mimicking reputable Azerbaijani companies, including İrşad Electronics, Baku Electronics, and Xalq Bank. These sites were promoted via social media with fake discount campaigns to lure victims.
The investigation also revealed that the group deployed call spoofing technology to impersonate numbers of real individuals and businesses. Victims received fraudulent SMS messages from what appeared to be trusted sources, tricking them into sharing sensitive information. In some cases, these spoofed identities were also used to offer and sell cyberattack services online.
Hajiev has been placed under pre-trial detention for an initial period of three months as the investigation continues.
The case highlights growing concerns over cyberthreats in Azerbaijan, as authorities grapple with increasingly sophisticated digital fraud operations that exploit both individual users and national institutions.
