15.11.2026 13:00
In an operation centered in Tekirdağ and carried out across 15 provinces, a gang that defrauded elderly people who wanted to marry a Bulgarian woman by posing as police officers and blackmailing them was dismantled. It was determined that one citizen lost 1 million 914 thousand TL, while a transaction volume of 724 million lira was detected in the suspects' accounts. Six of the 23 suspects were arrested.
In an operation centered in Tekirdağ and carried out in 15 provinces, 6 of 23 suspects were arrested after being caught defrauding and blackmailing elderly people who wanted to marry women living in Bulgaria through a marriage promise. A transaction volume of 724 million lira was identified in the suspects' bank accounts.
Under the coordination of the Tekirdağ Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, teams from the Provincial Police Department Public Order Branch Directorate launched an investigation following a complaint that elderly people were being lured into fraud and blackmail traps through the promise of 'marriage to a Bulgarian national woman living in Bulgaria'.
THEY PORTRAYED THE WOMAN HE WANTED TO MARRY AS A CRIMINAL
It was determined that the suspects frightened the citizen, to whom they introduced themselves as police officers, with unfounded statements that the woman he wanted to marry was involved in international money laundering, terrorist organizations, and fraud crimes, that a covert operation was being carried out, and that he needed to support this operation. It was determined that the suspects committed fraud by getting the citizen, whom they manipulated through blackmail and various promises, to send a total of 1 million 914 thousand TL to different IBAN accounts. In examinations of the suspects' bank accounts, a total financial transaction volume of 724 million lira was identified within the scope of fraud crimes. It was revealed that the money obtained from the crime was transferred abroad through crypto assets and various cold wallet accounts.
OPERATION IN 15 PROVINCES: 6 ARRESTS
Police teams detained 23 suspects in simultaneous operations carried out in 15 provinces to capture the suspects. A large number of digital materials and documents considered to have been used in the crime were seized on the suspects and at their addresses. After their procedures at the police station, 6 of the suspects referred to the courthouse were arrested at the court they appeared before on charges of 'qualified fraud' and 'blackmail', while 17 were released subject to judicial control conditions.
'FAKE POLICE' WARNING FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
In a statement made by the Tekirdağ Provincial Police Department, it was said: "It is strongly requested that our citizens be careful against persons who try to deceive them with promises of marriage, investment, and earnings, and who demand money by introducing themselves as police officers, prosecutors, or public officials, and that they absolutely not heed such requests. Our fight against crime and criminals will continue resolutely."