14.03.2025 12:45
A family in Kocaeli collected 2 million TL by defrauding citizens through a so-called spiritual entity they named "Hacı Baba." The suspects, who sent messages under the name "Hacı Baba" in a WhatsApp group, deceived people by claiming that "the jinn took" their money and gold after collecting them.
In Gölcük, the suspects S. S. (54), his daughter M. S. (32), his son K. S. (37), and his religiously married wife B. H. (51) defrauded citizens by exploiting their religious beliefs and feelings, amounting to 2 million TL. It was learned that the suspects claimed to communicate with a spiritual entity they referred to as "Hacı Baba," convincing victims that this person was a great saint and a friend of God.
It was determined that the suspects collected money and gold from victims by lying that Hacı Baba helped those afflicted by jinn and would protect donors from great calamities and disasters. Additionally, it was found that this so-called spiritual assistance was not limited to themselves; they expanded the fraud by saying they needed to collect donations from relatives and acquaintances around them. The donations were requested under the guise of religious aid, charity, and almsgiving, and it was revealed that the suspects exploited the victims' emotions, causing them significant financial losses.
3 SUSPECTS ARRESTED
Following a complaint, 4 suspects were detained in connection with the fraud case. Suspect M. S. was released under judicial control, while S. S., his son K. S., and religiously married wife B. H. were arrested.
THE LIE OF "DONATE TO ESCAPE CALAMITIES"
The indictment prepared against the defendants was accepted by the Kocaeli 3rd High Criminal Court. The indictment detailed all aspects of the established fraud network. It was stated in the indictment that the suspects gathered with the complainants at their addresses in Gölcük under the guise of "religious conversations," where S. S.'s son K. S. introduced himself as a so-called teacher and claimed that the so-called spiritual figure "Hacı Baba" could save them from calamities, but donations were required for this. Additionally, the indictment noted that B. H. also directly contacted Hacı Baba, informing the complainants that this so-called spiritual figure would save them from great calamities if they sent him money, and requested money under the pretext of "donation and religious aid."
"HACI BABA" SCAMMERS EXPOSED
The indictment stated that S. S. opened a bank account in the names of victims A. T. and F. K. to collect donation revenues and personally managed these accounts, emphasizing that a significant portion of the collected money was transferred to his daughter M. S.'s account. The indictment also revealed that the suspects encouraged victims to donate through religious conversations by establishing a WhatsApp group with them, and it was discovered that the phone number registered in the WhatsApp group under the name "Hacı Baba" belonged to S. S.
"HE CONSTANTLY ADVISED ME TO DIVORCE"
The indictment also included the statements of the complainants and suspects. Complainant F. M. (54) stated in his testimony included in the indictment, "I unofficially go to homes to teach the Quran. As far as I remember, in December 2019, S. S. came to me and said he wanted to learn the Quran. I started teaching him the Quran. At that time, I was having difficulties due to my spouse's substance abuse. S. S. constantly advised me to divorce. So, in February 2020, I left my own home and started living with S. S. at his residence in Gölcük. He told me he had problems with his bank account, that the state had blocked it, and that he couldn't use his bank accounts. Together, we took a phone line in my name for S. S. to use. We also opened a bank account in my name for S. S. to use," he said.
WHATSAPP MESSAGE FROM "HACI BABA"
F. M. recounted that one day he received a message on WhatsApp, saying, "Through S. S., a person reached out to me on WhatsApp, introducing himself as a spiritual teacher and told me that I could reach high ranks in the knowledge of ledun. However, he said I needed to read prayers for patients afflicted by jinn to reach that rank. Different people started to contact me. After a while, S. S.'s son K. S. came to our house and started to act as a teacher. He also opened an account on Instagram under the name 'Kaan Hoca' to spread these topics. Subsequently, K. S., S. S., and I began to negotiate prices regarding the patients we found. I had no say in the pricing," he stated.
HE DECEIVED ME UNDER THE PRETEXT OF HELPING THE NEEDY
F. M. continued his statement as follows:
"I was telling the prices given to me to the patients. After they accepted, money started to be transferred to my bank account, which was registered in my name but used by S. S. I clearly stated that I would not take any money from this job. I did it for the sake of Allah. S. S. deceived me by saying that he did not take this money, that Hacı Baba helped the needy. I know that K. S. is a computer engineer. He always had 2 computers and a phone with him. He was constantly dealing with them."
THE SPIRITUAL TEACHER'S JIN TOOK THE MONEY AND GOLD
F. M. explained that they started going to homes to read prayers, saying, "Apart from the money we received from individuals, we created a WhatsApp group with those around us. Hacı Baba was calling us on the phone, saying he was collecting help. He was forcing people to give the zakat of their gold and to donate. He was sending voice recordings like this and calling personally. Then, the individuals in the WhatsApp group brought me their gold, the amount of which I did not know exactly, on different dates. I gave the gold to S. S. He would wrap it in a prayer rug and take it to the bedroom. S. S. told us that the jinn of the spiritual teacher took that money and gold. This continued for about 2 years. I collected money from friends and relatives to be given to Hacı Baba under the pretext of charity, almsgiving, and help for Gaza. I also lost money to them. I thought there was fraud involved and distanced myself from them. Hacı Baba tortured me over the phone, saying, 'The jinn will strike you,' and told me not to tell anyone. I am complaining," he said.
DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS
Detained suspect S. S. denied the allegations in his statement, saying, "The person referred to as Hacı Baba had helped my wife's spiritual distress in the past. I got this person's number from a friend. Hacı Baba had helped us. My friend F. M. started living with me because he was experiencing family problems. At my suggestion, he met with Hacı Baba. We had a WhatsApp group with these people. I was receiving religious education through this group. Money was never collected using Hacı Baba's name. The money collection was for the purpose of helping. I distributed this money to those in need.
He stated, "I do not accept the allegations."
The other three defendants also did not accept the allegations. It has been learned that the defendants will appear before the judge in the coming months.
"THEY WERE A SECRET FAMILY"
Meanwhile, the houses of the suspects involved in the fraud case in Gölcük were photographed. Mümin Çalışkan (70), a neighbor of the family, stated, "We don't know much about the family. There were people coming and going, but they didn't engage with anyone. They were a secret family. They didn't engage with anyone. Everyone here greets each other, drinks tea together, but they were not like that towards us. They had a covered appearance, with turbans and beards. I guess they had been renting here for about 1.5 years. At that time, they rented it for 12,000 TL. We were very surprised that they rented it for such an expensive price when everywhere else was 3,000-4,000 TL. We learned about the fraud case after the individuals were taken by the police, from the neighbors. I didn't know if there were any religious discussions," he said.