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Turkish law enforcement agencies have cracked down on a criminal group that defrauded foreign tourists of a total of 1.1 billion liras ($29 million) through standard banking transactions. The Anadolu news agency reported that the fraudsters were arrested in raids in Istanbul, Antalya, Aydin, Izmir and Mugla.
Twenty people were arrested in connection with the case on May 31, 2024. According to the investigation, the group may have been led by a local hotel owner. He illegally obtained personal and financial information from tourists and embezzled large sums of money.
The fraud scheme was uncovered as a result of a four-month special investigation. The Kuşadası city prosecutor's office opened a criminal case after suspicious bank transactions were detected in the accounts of foreign tourists.
The investigation revealed that the accused secretly stole the bank card details of tourists staying at the hotel, and then reactivated them through other tourist services - hotel booking or car rental services. After the tourist left Turkey, a large amount of money was stolen from his account.
In addition, the group members traveled abroad and collected bank details in various ways. There were cases where the stolen money was cashed out through fake companies and even spent on real estate.
At the moment, 268 victims have been identified, and their number may increase. The investigation into the matter is ongoing, and a criminal case has been opened against the suspects.
The Zamin.uz editorial office continues to cover news about the safety of tourists in Turkey, banking practices and cyber fraud. At a time when the tourist season is in full swing, our citizens are also advised to pay attention to financial protection abroad. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!
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