12.01.2026 16:05
A gang that deceived citizens by posting fake house and car advertisements and collected deposits, making a profit of 3.5 billion lira, was dismantled in an operation called "carp spiral" conducted in 5 provinces centered in Kocaeli. It was determined that the organization opened potato lines in the names of foreign nationals, used cryptocurrencies to prevent tracking of the collected money, and concealed their activities through shell companies. It was also learned that the gang leader was living in a luxury villa.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of Gebze took action by evaluating a tip-off from a member of an organization in detail. Upon the prosecutor's instruction, the teams of the Kocaeli Police Department's Public Order Branch began fieldwork, and the 'carp spiral' operation was launched. After approximately 5 months of technical and physical surveillance, simultaneous operations were carried out in Alanya, Adana, Mersin, and Samsun, centered in Kocaeli. A total of 8 suspects were captured and taken into custody during the operations.
FAKE ADS HUNDREDS OF POTATO LINES
It was determined that the suspects demanded deposits from individuals they trapped with fake house and car ads. Within the scope of the investigation, it was found that the suspects defrauded citizens through phone lines opened in the names of foreign nationals. It was stated that there were 86 phone lines registered under a single person's name, all of which were used as 'potato lines'. It was learned that these lines opened through foreign nationals were actively used in fraudulent activities.
3.5 BILLION LIRA ACCOUNT ACTIVITY
Striking details were reached in financial examinations. It was revealed that only one of the suspects had between 250 to 300 million lira in inflows and outflows in their accounts, with a total account activity of approximately 3.5 billion lira, including crypto assets. It was determined that there were 7.5 million crypto assets in a single account belonging to the same suspect. The suspects laundered money obtained from the crime through shell companies established under the name of a textile firm, and it was reported that there was an activity of 700 to 800 million lira in some accounts. It was recorded that approximately 300 million lira was blocked within the scope of the investigation.
PRIVATE QUALIFIED WEAPON WORTH 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS SEIZED
Within the file, it was determined that a person named B.K. was the organization leader and had lived a luxurious life in a villa for a long time. It was learned that B.K. had previously been involved in an armed conflict related to fraud and was injured, and is currently in prison. In the ongoing operation, searches conducted at B.K.'s residence led to the seizure of specially qualified weapons, which are prohibited in Turkey and valued at approximately 100 thousand dollars.
MONEY LAUNDERED THROUGH SHELL COMPANIES
Authorities determined that there was no direct money transfer among organization members, and that the money traffic was conducted through third parties dealing with crypto assets to cover their tracks. It was stated that the money movements were deliberately fragmented, making tracking difficult. The income obtained from the crime was laundered through shell companies established using the "carp spiral" method, and companies were set up under the names of textile, construction, and jewelry firms. It was recorded that the money directed through crypto assets was funneled into the system through these companies.
During the searches conducted as part of the operation, numerous specially qualified weapons, as well as digital materials and documents that could be evidence of a crime, were seized. It was learned that the investigation related to the operation, in which the suspects were caught in their homes, is being conducted in a multi-faceted manner across 5 provinces.
OPERATION MOMENT CAPTURED ON CAMERA
On the other hand, the operations conducted at the addresses were recorded second by second by cameras. During searches at some addresses, drugs were also seized. The evidence found in the suspects' homes was confiscated.
Authorities pointed out that while there has been a decrease in classic theft crimes in Turkey in recent years, there has been a significant increase in qualified fraud crimes committed using drugs and information systems. They emphasized that potato lines, which still number in the millions across the country, are actively used, and that the ability for individuals to easily and limitlessly open accounts in any bank facilitates fraud crimes. It was recorded that individuals with no regular income had millions of lira in money movements in their accounts, leading to a significant explosion in recent years. Authorities also stated that especially in online shopping, citizens need to be extremely careful, emphasizing the great importance of parties meeting in person for the buying and selling of houses and vehicles.