ISTANBUL– The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Ali Yerlikaya, announced this week that a major cyber fraud network has been successfully taken down. The operation, which saw simultaneous raids in six provinces—Istanbul, Izmir, Van, Elazığ, Bingöl, and Hakkari—was initiated under the direction of the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command’s Cybercrime Combating Branch Directorate. Law enforcement, along with the Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, MIT Presidency and MASK, pressed the button on the coordinated operations targeting the group. The charges against the suspects include the crime of “Aggravated Fraud Using Information Systems.”
Deceptive Traps and Phishing Schemes
The criminal network targeted thousands of ordinary citizens through highly sophisticated methods. Gang members created convincing fake websites and interfaces, brazenly imitating the names and logos of legitimate public services such as the national postal and telegraph services () and the Fast Transit System (). They would then send deceptive messages to citizens, falsely claiming that the recipient had an “ debt” or an “undelivered cargo.” By clicking on the links in these messages, victims were directed to the fake sites, where they were tricked into providing information that allowed the network to monitor their total bank account activity. The extent of the crime, as revealed by the ongoing investigation, involved account activity totaling ₹191 crores (approx 900 million .
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Arrests and Confiscation of Assets
Of the 12 suspects initially captured during the operations, 10 have been formally arrested, while legal proceedings continue for the remaining individuals. Alongside the arrests, authorities also announced the seizure of a amount of assets. These confiscations were carried out under the crime of “Laundering of Assets Derived from Crime.” The scale of the financial seizure is substantial: 200 bank accounts and 30 crypto accounts were frozen. Authorities noted that these ill-gotten revenues, obtained through both confiscation and fraud, were successfully prevented from being moved by the criminals.
Commitment to Continued Cyber-Warfare
In the wake of the successful operation, Minister Yerlikaya delivered a strong message, emphasizing the government’s resolve. The Minister stated that the fight against such cybercrimes will continue with unwavering determination. These arrest, which successfully took down a network that victimized thousands and managed hundreds of millions in fraudulent activity is a victory for Turkish authorities in their efforts to safeguard citizens from increasingly complex digital financial crimes.
