A scam like no other: They sold lighters disguised as gold bars

In Beylikdüzü, an individual approached a person, claiming to be a foreign national and a jeweler, and sold them lighters disguised as gold bars as if they were real gold. M.P., who committed similar scams in many districts of Istanbul, was detained in Güngören. It was learned that M.P. has a criminal record of 70 offenses.

Müslim Sarıyar

Müslim SARIYAR / 12punto.com.tr 

Istanbul Police Department teams reported that on October 7, in Beylikdüzü, an individual approached a person named A.K. while they were walking on a street in the Adnan Kahveci Neighborhood

ANOTHER GANG MEMBER PURCHASED ONE TO GAIN TRUST

The suspect, who claimed to be a foreign national and a jeweler, tried to sell the lighters in his possession that looked like gold bars as if they were real gold. Just then, the fraudster's accomplice approached them to gain trust and purchased a bar in exchange for money. Following this sale, the victim, A.K., believed the ruse and paid 18 thousand 200 TL to purchase the fake gold-bar-looking lighter. 

After realizing they had been scammed, A.K. filed a complaint. The police launched an investigation and determined that M.P. had committed fraud using the same method in 5 different districts on different dates, including Arnavutköy, Başakşehir, Güngören, and Kadıköy. During the investigation, it was found that M.P., who defrauded victims of a total of 49 thousand TL and 1,500 dollars, was detained in Güngören. 

70 CRIMINAL RECORDS FOUND, RELEASED UNDER JUDICIAL CONTROL

It was learned that M.P. has 70 criminal records, 49 of which are for aggravated fraud. M.P., who was referred to the courthouse, was released under judicial control.