Turkcell responds to Deniz Yücel's lawsuit announcement: WhatsApp account was hacked

Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman and Party Spokesperson Deniz Yücel, made a statement regarding the theft of his WhatsApp account, explaining the entire process and stating that he would file a lawsuit against Turkcell due to a security vulnerability.

'THE LEGAL PROCESS IS BEING FOLLOWED METICULOUSLY'

Following Yücel's explanation of the process, a statement came from Turkcell regarding the security vulnerability in question.

In the statement made by Turkcell, it was stated,"Examinations have revealed that an unauthorized transaction was carried out using a fake ID in Mr. Yücel's name. A criminal complaint has been filed with the prosecutor's office against the individuals who committed the crime of forgery of official documents. The legal process is being followed meticulously." the statement read.

Yücel, who made a statement on the social media platform X,  He had stated, "Let no one have any doubt that we will wage every necessary struggle to ensure that this attack, carried out today against the Party Spokesperson, Deputy Chairman, and a Member of Parliament of the Main Opposition Party, does not happen to our 85 million citizens tomorrow and that the communication security vulnerability in our country does not become normalized."

Yücel's statements are as follows:

CLONED SIM CARD FOR A 25-YEAR-OLD NUMBER

Although the method used has not yet been determined, on August 19, 2024, at 14:40, the person or persons who obtained my identity information managed to have a new SIM card issued for the number I have been using for 25 years, through a communication center of my operator, by posing as me using my identity details. Consequently, the SIM card inserted in my phone was automatically deactivated.

ACCESSING WHATSAPP WITH A CLONED SIM CARD

By accessing my WhatsApp through this SIM card, they first changed my profile picture to that of President Tayyip Erdoğan, and then sent messages to the contacts or groups in my account with a photo of Alpay Özalan, accompanied by the text, "Should Alpay Özalan punch you too?"

WARNING VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

From the moment we realized this attack had occurred, we first published a warning message on social media to prevent any harm to the people saved in my phone contacts and those added to my WhatsApp account.

We subsequently took the necessary steps to stop the use of my WhatsApp account. Currently, the activation of my WhatsApp account has been suspended as a result of the necessary correspondence, and our official correspondence to resolve the issue is ongoing.

This incident did not stem from any security vulnerability on my part or that of our party.

This attack is not just an attack directed at Deniz Yücel; it is an attack carried out due to my roles as Deputy Chairman, Party Spokesperson, and Member of Parliament for the Republican People's Party.

"NO ONE CAN BE SAFE"

If a SIM card can be issued illegally in the name of someone serving as the Spokesperson for the Main Opposition Party, Deputy Chairman, and Member of Parliament, then no one's freedom of communication, personal data, or information is safe in this country. I leave the judgment of this to the public...

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AND COMPENSATION LAWSUIT

I will file a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor's Office against the person or persons who obtained my identity information and seized my WhatsApp account through illegal methods, as well as against those who had fault or negligence in the occurrence of this incident, for the crimes of seizing personal data, cybercrimes, and violation of the freedom of communication.

Furthermore, I would like to state that I will also file a lawsuit for material and moral damages against Turkcell regarding this attack, which took place through a communication center belonging to the operator I use.

"I WILL FIGHT THIS IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE"

Let no one doubt that we will wage every necessary struggle to ensure that this attack, carried out today against the Party Spokesperson, Deputy Chairman, and a Member of Parliament of the main opposition party, does not happen to our 85 million citizens tomorrow, and to ensure that the communication security vulnerability in our country is not normalized."

News Source: 12punto