Methods for becoming a money-laundering influencer

Ekonomim columnist Şeref Oğuz wrote that the increase in the number of influencers on social media is linked to money laundering, and continued as follows:

“So much so that we see those who lived modest lives until a few years ago suddenly opening beauty centers and marketing cosmetics, and through channels created on social media, the black money they claim to have earned is integrated into the system. The recent influencer epidemic is the most vivid example of this, and every day, new influencers are being included in money laundering or tax investigations.”

Emphasizing that black money allegedly earned from social media is being integrated into the system, Oğuz listed the steps with the note, “How to become a money-laundering influencer in 10 steps?”:

-First, create a profile on social media.

-Open a beauty center and supply and market cosmetic products.

-Go on Hajj or Umrah; focus more on selfies than on the circumambulation (tawaf), and share them.

-Take photos while praying profusely.

-Hire an agency to increase your follower count and work with professionals.

-Money will start pouring in. Use it to buy horses, mansions, yachts, apartments, and shops.

-Have expensive cars, but make sure they are seen.

-Display your luxury life so that a legitimate basis is formed for the millions of dollars you are injecting into the system.

-To avoid falling under the radar of MASAK, spend large amounts of money by breaking them into smaller pieces.

-When arrested, deny everything. Blame someone else. And do not anger those who support you.