Fraud via fake female profiles on social media

On October 6, 2023, an individual filed a complaint with the District Gendarmerie Command in Akyazı, reporting that they had been contacted from different numbers regarding a woman they met on social media. The victim stated that they were told the person they were communicating with was under 18, and that suspects posing as mediators sent settlement documents and hospital reports via WhatsApp, demanding money to close the case.

After the victim filed a complaint with the gendarmerie alleging they had been defrauded after sending a total of 310 thousand 670 liras to these individuals in 7 separate transactions, the Provincial Gendarmerie Command launched an investigation into the "qualified fraud" incident.

Following the initial identification of 8 suspects, it was determined that the fraud was being carried out by a criminal organization. In a report prepared under the coordination of the Akyazı Public Prosecutor's Office and in light of correspondence with MASAK, financial data analysis was conducted, and the suspects' criminal records, HTS (historical traffic search) records, accommodation records, and bank account activities were examined.

As teams identified 14 more connected individuals, the investigation revealed that the crime was committed in an organized manner by 22 suspects, all of whom had multiple criminal records for qualified fraud. Suspicious activity exceeding 500 million liras, believed to have been obtained through fraud, was identified in the suspects' accounts over the last two years.

It was determined that 9 of the 22 members of the criminal organization were already incarcerated in various prisons for "qualified fraud."

Under the coordination of the Akyazı Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, teams from the Provincial Gendarmerie Command conducted operations at 13 addresses in Sakarya, Mersin, İzmir, Adana, Hatay, and Mardin, apprehending 11 suspects.

During the searches, 13 mobile phones, a flash drive, a computer, an unlicensed pistol, and a stolen motorcycle were seized.

Following their processing, Ö.T, D.S, Y.D, M.K.A, D.J, M.İ, Y.C.K, S.T, M.E, M.K, and H.İ.İ. were referred to judicial authorities and arrested.

Meanwhile, it was learned that B.E., nicknamed "Pablo," who held a managerial position in the organization, was apprehended and arrested by Adana Provincial Gendarmerie Command teams on March 12.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend B.İ., who was identified as the ringleader of the organization and is believed to be living abroad under a fake identity.

News Source: AA