Azerbaijan.US
A resident of Baku has reported losing several hundred manats after allegedly falling victim to a loan scam promoted through TikTok, highlighting growing concerns over fraudulent financial offers circulating on social media platforms in Azerbaijan.
According to local media, the individual said he encountered a page advertising fast loans on TikTok and was instructed to follow a series of steps to “activate” a credit application. As part of the process, he was asked to transfer a small upfront payment described as a “deposit.”
After transferring 120 manats, the complainant claims that unknown individuals gained access to his bank card details. He later discovered that a total of around 700 manats had been withdrawn from his accounts. Attempts to contact the page administrators reportedly failed, with the user being blocked and previous message histories deleted.
A representative acting on behalf of the alleged victim said that similar complaints have been raised by other residents, suggesting the scheme may not be an isolated case. In these incidents, users were allegedly promised loans after paying amounts ranging from 100 to 150 manats, but never received the funds.
A payment company whose name appeared in connection with the case stated that it has no affiliation with any TikTok-based loan offers and does not cooperate with such pages. The company noted that it had not received a formal complaint from the individual and emphasized that verified reports are typically reviewed internally and, if necessary, referred to law enforcement.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan confirmed that an inquiry is currently underway based on the citizen’s complaint and that the matter is being examined by the relevant territorial police department.
Authorities have repeatedly warned users to exercise caution when encountering financial offers on social media, particularly those requiring advance payments or requesting access to personal banking information. Experts note that upfront “processing fees” or “deposits” are a common red flag in online loan scams globally.
The case adds to broader concerns about the misuse of social media platforms for financial fraud and underscores the need for greater digital awareness among users.
