Major fraud operation in Afyonkarahisar: 20 suspects detained

In Afyonkarahisar, police have carried out one of the largest fraud operations in recent years. As a result of a simultaneous operation based in Afyonkarahisar, 20 suspects were detained for defrauding 272 people through fake advertisements and earning 17 million 500 thousand TL.

Teams from the Afyonkarahisar Provincial Police Department conducted a 5-month technical and physical surveillance operation targeting a gang committing qualified fraud using information systems. The operation was carried out simultaneously in Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Antalya, Eskişehir, Muğla, Nevşehir, and Samsun. A total of 20 suspects, including 3 women, were apprehended in the raids.

It was revealed that the gang defrauded citizens by placing fake advertisements on social media platforms for "zero-interest loans, cheap product sales, and cheap hotel/villa reservations." It was determined that the stolen money was being laundered by being transferred into cryptocurrency systems.

During the raids conducted by the police, numerous digital materials, bank and credit cards belonging to other individuals, identity information, selfie photos, and login passwords for crypto accounts and mobile banking applications were found at the addresses.

The apprehended suspects were referred to the Afyonkarahisar Chief Public Prosecutor's Office following their processing. Of the 20 people detained, 4 were released after questioning by the prosecutor, while 8 of the 16 people brought before the court were arrested, and 8 were released under judicial control conditions. It was stated that the operation was an important step in preventing fraudulent activities and protecting the rights of victims.

News Source: İHA