'Investment Consultant' operation in 2 provinces: 25 suspects apprehended

Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya shared the details of the "Sibergöz-8" operations on his social media account. Yerlikaya stated the following:

"A total of 25 suspects were apprehended in the "Sibergöz-8" operations, which were carried out simultaneously in 8 provinces centered in Istanbul and 2 provinces centered in Kastamonu, targeting the crime of 'Qualified Fraud through the Use of Information Systems.' The operations are ongoing.

Under the coordination of the Department of Anti-Cyber Crime, the Istanbul Anti-Cyber Crime Branch Directorate conducted simultaneous operations in 8 provinces, including Istanbul, Muğla, Kocaeli, Siirt, Ankara, Antalya, Çanakkale, and Erzincan. Simultaneously, the Kastamonu Anti-Cyber Crime Branch Directorate conducted operations in 2 provinces, including Kastamonu and Mersin. A total of 25 suspects who committed the crime of 'Qualified Fraud using Information Systems' were apprehended in the Sibergöz-8 operations, which covered 10 provinces.

It was determined that these suspects called citizens and introduced themselves as 'Investment Consultants,' defrauded these individuals by promising high returns through Forex investments, obtained 211,500 USD in illicit gains from the people they defrauded, acquired bank or credit cards and GSM numbers belonging to others, and used the accounts and GSM lines they obtained for illegal betting transactions.

During the operation, handguns, 338,000 TL and 22,400 USD in cash, a large number of digital materials, laptops, and a large number of mobile phones and SIM cards were seized."