15 arrested in Forex fraud case

Following a complaint by complainant Musa E. regarding being defrauded through a Forex site named İdol FX, 25 suspects were apprehended in an operation conducted on November 24, 2023, in 9 provinces, including Istanbul, as part of an investigation initiated by the Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Searches conducted at the suspects' residences resulted in the seizure of 22 thousand 770 dollars, 380 euros, 319 thousand 445 liras, and numerous digital materials.

11 of the suspects, who were referred to the courthouse after their procedures at the police station, were arrested.

As a result of the examination of the digital materials seized from the suspects, it was understood that sites named Ruka FX, Skybitpro, Hun FX, Hit Capital, Sirus FX, and Aros FX were also used to defraud citizens, and that capital market activities were carried out without permission from the Capital Markets Board.

VICTIMS' MONEY CONVERTED TO CRYPTOCURRENCY

It was determined that the suspects committed fraud with promises of earnings and investment, used many shell companies, and that the money coming from the victims into the accounts was converted into cryptocurrency and transferred to currency exchange offices.

As a result of 5 newly identified actions, it was revealed that 5 complainants were defrauded of a total of 3 million 349 thousand 995 liras and 830 thousand dollars.

In a simultaneous operation conducted on January 24 in Istanbul, İzmir, Antalya, Yalova, Balıkesir, Mersin, Ankara, Kocaeli, Siirt, and Tekirdağ against the suspects whose addresses were identified, 36 suspects were apprehended.

While 34 of the suspects were referred to the courthouse, 2 suspects were released after their procedures at the police station.

Of the 34 suspects, 15 were arrested, 14 were released under judicial control conditions, and 5 suspects were released after their statements to the prosecutor's office.