15.02.2026 15:40
In his first statement after taking office, Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek said, "I am also receiving messages regarding IBAN victims. Hopefully, we are considering including this in the 12th package." A legal regulation will be made for those known as "IBAN victims" due to the fraudulent use of bank accounts.
The Minister of Justice, Akın Gürlek, in his first statement after taking office, said, "I am also receiving messages regarding IBAN victims. They are constantly keeping it on the agenda on social media. Hopefully, we are considering including this in the 12th package."
IT AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF IBAN ACCOUNTS
Gürlek's statement concerns approximately 300,000 IBAN accounts. Those under investigation under Article 15 of the Turkish Penal Code and those convicted of this crime are referred to as IBAN victims.
According to a report on NTV, the use of IBANs brings certain responsibilities not only in terms of criminal cases but also in terms of taxes. Some of those who identify themselves as IBAN victims have been misled by their friends, while others knowingly used their bank accounts for illegal betting syndicates to generate income. The subjects of the crime are those who knowingly or unknowingly used IBAN accounts in illegal transactions. It is estimated that the number of individuals subjected to judicial proceedings under Article 158 of the TCK due to the use of bank accounts in fraudulent activities is around 300,000. The number of those convicted of this crime, meaning those whose offenses have been finalized, is estimated to be 50,000. Some of those convicted are currently in prison.
"A TOPIC THAT REALLY BURNS THE FIELD"
Deputy Minister of Justice Niyazi Acar, while providing information to the parliamentary committee at the end of 2025, announced that the current number of public cases related to fraud through information systems is 291,379. It is estimated that this number exceeds 300,000. Acar stated, "This is really a topic that burns the field. It is currently putting the system in serious trouble. If someone who allows their account to be used knows the fraud, they are punished 100% for fraud; if they do not know the fraud but are obtaining benefits, their special situation is considered; the file tries to ensure justice, and if no benefit has been obtained, they are acquitted." It is estimated that the number of those convicted of this crime is 50,000.
The issue had also come up in the 11th judicial package. The trials of crimes regulated under the article concerning qualified fraud in the Turkish Penal Code will be transferred from heavy penal courts to criminal courts of first instance, thus these files will fall under the scope of reconciliation.
WHAT IS IBAN FRAUD?
There is an increase in IBAN and GSM fraud. In a statement made by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in 2025 regarding the issue, it was noted that among the most common types of cyber crimes in the country and worldwide are phishing, fake websites, social engineering methods, ransomware, credit card and banking fraud, data breaches, malware, cryptocurrency fraud, account takeover, cyber espionage, cyber crimes against children, reputation assassination, blackmail, and information pollution. The statement also emphasized that victims deceived with promises of financial gain face severe penalties for allowing others to use their bank and payment accounts.