20.02.2026 11:31
The month of Ramadan, the sultan of eleven months, has arrived. Iftar and sahur tables have started to be set. However, experts have made important warnings about those who engage in emotional manipulation. Forensic computing expert Prof. Dr. Ali Murat Kırık stated that traps are set through fake SMS, social media messages, and cloned websites, emphasizing that special care should be taken against messages regarding iftar reservations, aid campaigns, and gift vouchers.
Prof. Dr. Kırık, who explains that cyber fraudsters are trying different methods to take advantage of the month of Ramadan, stated that they reach citizens sometimes through social media and sometimes via SMS. "They have started to exploit the feelings of citizens in this spiritual month. Especially through fake SMS, they are trapping our people and seizing their personal data and bank information," he said.
IFTAR RESERVATION MESSAGES
Emphasizing that one of the most commonly used methods is fake iftar reservation messages, Prof. Dr. Kırık said that citizens are asked to click on a link for details in messages sent under the title "iftar reservation." Kırık noted that those who click on the link enter their identity information and Turkish ID numbers, and then encounter a fake e-Government interface, thus all personal data falls into the hands of the fraudsters.
CHAIN STORES' NAMES ARE USED
Prof. Dr. Kırık pointed out that another tactic of the fraudsters is the promise of Ramadan aid and gift vouchers, highlighting that the names of popular e-commerce sites and chain stores are used. He stated that first a social media account is hacked, and then a message saying "you have won a 5,000 lira gift voucher special for Ramadan" is sent from that account, adding that the main goal is to subscribe individuals to paid mobile services. "With this method, you lose both your money and your personal data," he expressed.
"A VERY SERIOUS RISK"
Kırık emphasized that messages claiming that state support is provided specifically for Ramadan should not be trusted, stating that Turkish ID numbers and passwords are seized through fake e-Government sites that are exact copies of the original interface. He mentioned that this information can later be used in fraudulent transactions, and Prof. Dr. Kırık called on citizens to be cautious, saying, "This is a very serious risk."