28.01.2026 18:03
A member of a gang that committed fraud by posing as police in Istanbul called the police and reported that he had been scammed by an accomplice. The suspect, who explained that they had defrauded an 87-year-old retired teacher by posing as police and taking 117,373 dollars, said, "My friend who took the money deceived me. He disappeared without giving me my share. You catch him, and I will come and turn myself in."
A person wishing to report by calling the Fraud Bureau of the Public Order Branch said, "I did a job with my friends. We were supposed to receive money from somewhere. However, the friend who took the money deceived me. He disappeared without giving me my share. You catch him, and I will come and surrender." He told the police the name of his accomplice. However, the person who said he would surrender did not come to the Police Department.
4 SUSPECTS ARRESTED
Upon receiving the report, the police initiated an operation and determined that the mentioned person was staying at a hotel in Istanbul. In the operation conducted at the hotel, Ertuğrul A. and 3 of his friends were taken into custody. During the investigation, it was found that the suspects had received instructions from a gang that had been committing phone fraud and went to a house in Kadıköy, where they received 117,373 dollars in cash from the victim. Police teams, based on the suspects' statements, identified that the money was hidden in a grocery store. In the raid on the business, 61,100 dollars hidden among the shelves were seized.
VISITED THE HOUSE WHERE THEY RECEIVED THE MONEY WITH THE SUSPECT
During their interrogations, the suspects, who claimed they did not know to whom the money belonged, were asked to show the house in Kadıköy where Ertuğrul A. received the money. After wandering around with the teams for a long time, the suspect remembered the house where he received the money at the door and showed it to the police.
THE SCAMMED RETIRED TEACHER MISTOOK THE POLICE FOR SCAMMERS
Police teams who went to the address in Kadıköy's 19 Mayıs Neighborhood told 87-year-old retired teacher C.A. that they were police and asked him to open the door. However, not believing the visitors, C.A. shouted for help. After his neighbors calmed him down, C.A. opened the door and realized he had been scammed by fake police and filed a complaint.
THEY SENT A MOBILE PHONE AND CONTINUOUSLY CALLED
As part of the investigation, it was determined that the individuals who called C.A. introduced themselves as police, deceiving the victim by saying a large operation was underway. The suspects sent the woman a mobile phone that was not registered in anyone's name, known among the public as a 'potato line,' and told her, "Only talk to us with this phone, follow our instructions."
THEY ALSO TRIED TO TAKE THE VICTIM'S APARTMENTS
It was revealed that after receiving the money, the suspects continued to call C.A., pressuring her to give power of attorney to sell the apartments registered in her name. C.A., overwhelmed by the constant calls, wrote notes in her diary such as, "Today was very difficult," "The worst New Year's Eve of my life," "Power of attorney order came," "Hang in there, hang in there."
THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS
In the police investigation, it was found that C.A. had also been called by phone scammers about a month ago, during which 100 thousand dollars was taken from her, and the suspects had disappeared.
HE CONFESSED HIS CRIME
Ertuğrul A., who confessed his crime at the Fraud Bureau, stated that he did not deliver the money he received from the woman to the gang members, saying, "I was told that a gambling debt would be collected from me. However, I realized that this was a scam when I received the money. Therefore, I did not give the money to them." As a result of the investigation, it was revealed that Ertuğrul A. spent part of the money with his friends in hotels, paid off his debts, and hid the remaining money in a grocery store.
4 SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED
After completing the procedures at the police station, Ertuğrul A., M.C.E. (20), Ö.K. (20), and M.T. (22) were referred to the courthouse. The suspects were arrested by the court they were brought before and sent to prison.