Fraud operation in 29 provinces: 89 suspects caught

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the arrest of 89 suspects in fraud operations conducted in 29 provinces over the past month. Sixty-four of the suspects were arrested, and nine were placed under judicial control. Proceedings are reportedly ongoing for the remaining suspects.

Minister Yerlikaya, in a statement on his social media account, stated that 388 citizens were identified as having been defrauded in the operations. He explained that the operations were carried out by the Public Security Branch Directorates of the Provincial Police Departments in Adana, Adıyaman, Ankara, Antalya, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bingöl, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hakkari, Hatay, İstanbul, İzmir, Kars, Kırklareli, Kırşehir, Kocaeli, Kütahya, Manisa, Mersin, Muğla, Samsun, Sivas, Şanlıurfa, Tekirdağ, Trabzon, Yozgat, and Zonguldak.

It was revealed that the suspects defrauded citizens by deceiving them with promises of finding historical artifacts, introduced themselves as public officials, lawyers, bank officials, and mediators, and committed fraud with fake identities, and victimized citizens by selling auto spare parts through fake websites.

Minister Yerlikaya announced that an investigation has been launched by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the suspects, and that the suspects' bank accounts contain a transaction volume of 28 million lira. Yerlikaya stated, “I congratulate our Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices, the General Directorate of Security's Public Security Department, and the Provincial Police Chiefs and police officers who carried out the operations. We will never give an opportunity to those who covet our citizens' legitimate earnings. We continue our fight against criminal networks and illegal organizations with determination.”