07.09.2026 09:21
The family of Mustafa and Mahmut Demir, who went missing after a ship sank in the TRNC, warned citizens against scammers collecting donations using their names. The family stated that the state is with them and requested that no money be sent to anyone.
The family waiting for news in the Reyhanlı district of Hatay, the hometown of brothers Mustafa Demir and Mahmut Demir, who were traveling on the ship that sank in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, has warned citizens against individuals committing fraud by using the names of the brothers who were lost in the sunken ship.
WHILE THE FAMILY'S PAINFUL WAIT CONTINUES, THEY COMMITTED FRAUD USING THE NAMES OF THEIR MISSING CHILDREN The hopeful wait continues at the paternal home of 33-year-old Mustafa Demir and 28-year-old Mahmut Demir, who were traveling on the ship that departed from Kyrenia towards Mersin and sank shortly after setting sail, in the Harran Neighborhood of the Reyhanlı district. The family, enduring difficult days with the grief of the brothers, experienced a second shock when the names of the Demir brothers were used for fraudulent purposes.
The Demir family claimed that unidentified individuals, sharing an IBAN number by saying the brothers' families were in need of help, were collecting donations. Halil Demir, the older brother of the missing brothers, warned citizens not to pay attention to the donation posts, saying, "We don't need anyone's money, thank God our state is with us."
Halil Demir, the older brother of the missing brothers "THEY ARE EXPLOITING PEOPLE'S GOODWILL FOR MALICIOUS PURPOSES" Halil Demir, who claimed that fraud was being committed using his brothers' names, said, "They are sharing an IBAN in the name of my brothers Mahmut and Mustafa Demir. They keep asking for money. They are trying to deceive people by saying they have reached our family and that we are in need of help. They are exploiting people's goodwill for malicious purposes; there is no need for such a thing. I want to address all of Turkey: please do not trust these fraudsters. We don't need anyone's money, thank God our state is with us. Our relatives and villagers are with us. Please do not believe such fraudsters. Without even knowing where our brothers are, they are sharing an IBAN by exploiting people's goodwill. Do not trust anyone and do not send money to anyone; do not involve my brothers in such bad things. I ask the authorities to find those who are doing this."
Ibrahim Demir, describing how donations were being collected using the names of the missing brothers, said, "Aid is being requested in the name of Mahmut and Mustafa Demir. We haven't even received our dead yet, and fraudsters are collecting money from people. Let no one trust them."