Social media fraud: 2.5 billion lira

40 suspects, who were detained on the grounds of defrauding victims by promising high profits through advertisements and announcements on social media in 19 provinces centered in Eskişehir, were arrested, with 28 of them being taken into custody.

The Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Cyber Crimes Investigation Bureau initiated an investigation following complaints of fraud with high profit promises on social media. The investigation revealed that the suspects were defrauding individuals by promising high profits through advertisements and announcements on social media. It was determined that they established 23 different shell companies for fraud and defrauded 112 people. A dawn operation was carried out the day before in Eskişehir, as well as in Adana, Ağrı, Amasya, Ankara, Balıkesir, Bursa, Giresun, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Malatya, Mersin, Osmaniye, Tekirdağ, Uşak, and Yozgat, resulting in the detention of 40 suspects. During the searches conducted at the suspects' homes, digital materials, numerous bank and credit cards belonging to other individuals, and many ready-to-use SIM cards were seized.

THEY CONVINCED WITH FAKE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND INVESTMENT APPLICATIONS

Of the 40 people detained, 24 were in Eskişehir, while the other suspects were referred to the courthouse in the provinces where they were detained. While 28 of the suspects were arrested, 3 were released under judicial control, and 9 were released after their statements. It was determined that the suspects defrauded individuals they convinced to invest with fake financial statements, risk reports, and documents showing investment applications, and it was revealed that they reached a transaction volume of approximately 2.5 billion Turkish Liras through banks in one year. The investigation is ongoing.