512 million TL fraud uncovered in Diyarbakır-based 'Operation Vulture'

A major criminal organization has been uncovered in a large-scale fraud investigation conducted by the Diyarbakır Police Department, dubbed "Operation Vulture." It was determined that the suspects, who specifically targeted citizens searching for "interest-free loans" online, committed fraud by posing as bank employees.

The suspects, who contacted citizens, deceived people with the lie that "there is a suspicious transaction in your account." It was determined that they transferred the money they obtained abroad via cryptocurrency wallets. MASAK reports revealed that the crypto wallets used by the suspects were linked to overseas-based crypto offices, where the funds were converted into cash.

2-MONTH SURVEILLANCE, SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS IN 14 PROVINCES

A special 30-person team formed within the Diyarbakır Police Department conducted meticulous surveillance on the case for 2 months. Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) reports were examined, and hundreds of bank transactions were analyzed to identify 25 suspects.

Operations against the suspects were carried out simultaneously in Diyarbakır, as well as in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Adana, Muğla, Aydın, Manisa, Mersin, Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Sivas, and Kastamonu. 25 people were detained in the operations, which were also joined by Special Operations teams.

During the raids, some suspects, upon seeing the special operations teams entering their homes, panicked and threw their weapons and laptops containing critical documents out of the window.

MASAK REPORT: 512 MILLION TL IN SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTIONS

The financial scale of the operation also drew attention. In the report prepared by MASAK, a total suspicious transaction volume of 512 million TL was detected in the suspects' accounts. It is estimated that a portion of this amount was converted into cryptocurrency and smuggled abroad.

Numerous homes, workplaces, vehicles, and bank accounts were seized during the operations. 2 unlicensed pistols and digital materials were confiscated during the searches.

18 PEOPLE ARRESTED, 7 RELEASED UNDER JUDICIAL CONTROL

The 25 suspects, whose procedures at the police station were completed, were referred to the courthouse. Upon the prosecutor's request, 18 people were arrested and sent to prison. A decision was made to release the remaining 7 people under judicial control conditions.

News Source: İHA