14.08.2026 23:00
In the operation carried out in Istanbul against individuals and companies accused of using 'bot' software under the guise of visa consultancy to book visa appointments in bulk, preventing citizens from making direct appointments, and charging high fees, 41 suspects were detained. After procedures at the police station, 37 of the suspects were arrested upon being referred to the courthouse, while 4 people were released under judicial control conditions.
Within the scope of two separate investigations conducted under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was determined that some individuals and companies operating under the guise of visa consultancy accessed the online appointment systems of consulates and authorized intermediary institutions through software referred to as 'bots', collectively obtaining appointments, thereby systematically making it difficult for citizens to get appointments from these systems, charging money under the names of software, consultancy, and service fees by guaranteeing visa or appointment procurement within certain periods, failing to refund fees when the promised service was not provided, transferring applicants' personal data to automated software, and transferring the revenues considered to be obtained from these activities through the accounts of various individuals and companies.
TOTAL MONEY MOVEMENT OF 2 BILLION 841 MILLION
On the other hand, in the financial analyses conducted by the Presidency of the Tax Inspection Board of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, it was determined that between January 2024 and July 2026, there was a total gross money movement of 2 billion 841 million 220 thousand lira in the accounts of different company structures subject to the investigation, approximately 918 million lira was collected from more than 41,000 people, a significant portion of the collections was accumulated in the personal accounts of company partners and employees rather than company accounts, the companies operated under different visa brands, and there were intense cash, crypto asset, and precious metal movements in the accounts. Within the scope of the investigation, it was determined that some victims had money movements of up to 500 thousand lira.
OPERATION AGAINST 49 SUSPECTS
Within the scope of the investigation, searches were conducted at a total of 63 addresses in the provinces of Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Balıkesir, Bursa, and Izmir to apprehend 49 suspects and seize evidence of crimes. In the operation, 41 suspects were detained.
37 SUSPECTS ARRESTED
Following their procedures at the police station, the suspects were referred to the courthouse. Among them, Aleyna Darcan, Ayşen Ellialtıoğlu, Bünyamin Çalışkan, Harun Durgut, Kadir Yazıcı, Hamide Yanmaz, Selin Yıldız, Seçkin Durgut, Sena Durgut, Süleyman Karanlık, Yusuf Furkan Gürel, Ömer Salih Atan, Ayşe Gündüz, Berkay Vargüz, Cihat Karakuş, Çınar Karakuş, Emre Can Malgaz, Fadime Nur Kara, Fatih Bekmezci, Feyda Tangüner, Tuğba Uslu, Özgür Önal, Pınar Demir, Sinem Şule Harçın, Tuğba Aksoy, Tunahan Coşgun, Tunahan Kerim Yüksel, Tunahan Akçay, Sezgin Akçanak, Kerim Ekizoğlu, Merve Akın, Mehmet Akın, Kıymet İlayda Toprak, Melis Özalp, Kamil Ergin, Fikret Karakuş, and Günsel Karakuş were arrested and sent to prison by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace. On the other hand, 4 people were released under the judicial control condition of a 'travel ban abroad'.