Incredible real estate fraud: 7 detained
An incredible real estate fraud scheme has been uncovered in Istanbul. An agency, having noticed that properties they previously rented out were being listed for sale by their owners through other firms, began listing the homes online at low prices without the owners' knowledge, using the slogan 'Don't miss this opportunity.' One real estate manager and six employees were detained for defrauding prospective buyers by collecting down payments.
Müslim Sarıyar
Müslim SARIYAR-12punto.com.tr
The mind-boggling fraud scheme took place in Pendik. Seven people filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office, alleging they had been defrauded by a real estate agency. Following this complaint, the Fraud Bureau of the Public Security Branch Directorate teams took action.
'DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY'
In the complaints filed, victims stated that they contacted the real estate agency after seeing online advertisements featuring slogans like 'Don't miss this price' and 'Don't miss this opportunity,' adding: 'They showed us the house. There were tenants inside. They asked for a down payment to purchase the property. We paid it, but the sale never went through. They kept stalling us. We realized we had been defrauded.'
INCREDIBLE ALLEGATION EMERGES
Police investigations have uncovered a mind-boggling method. According to the allegations, the real estate company was the same firm that had previously rented out these properties. Upon seeing that these homes were being listed for sale by other real estate agencies, they listed the properties online without the owners' knowledge at low prices, using slogans like 'This price is a steal' and 'Don't miss this opportunity.'
THEY KNEW THE TENANTS
Following these listings, they took customers who wanted to see the homes to visit the properties. It is alleged that because they knew the tenants they had previously placed in the homes, they were able to create a friendly atmosphere and gain the victims' trust while showing the properties.
This is how they gained the trust of those who wanted to buy the homes. It was stated that the real estate company defrauded 7 people using this method. Following the intelligence gathered, an operation was conducted, and the real estate company manager and 6 employees were apprehended and detained. The 6 detained individuals were referred to the courthouse following their interrogation at the Fraud Bureau.