13.11.2026 11:06
A fraud scheme established in 3 provinces based in Istanbul to seize the inheritances of people who died abroad has been uncovered. It was determined that the suspects, who used people resembling the heirs as "jokers," withdrew money from banks using fake passports. In the operation, 11 people were detained, including a former lawyer wanted for 19 separate crimes.
An operation was carried out in 3 provinces centered on Istanbul against suspects who tried to seize the inheritances of Turkish citizens who died abroad or about whom an absentee ruling had been issued, using forged documents. It was determined that the suspects, who used people resembling the heirs as "jokers," withdrew money from banks with forged passports. In the operation, 11 people were detained, including a former lawyer wanted on 19 separate charges.
Istanbul Police Department Financial Crimes Combat Branch Directorate teams, under the coordination of the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, launched an investigation into aggravated fraud incidents committed using forged documents. In the examinations, it was revealed that the suspects targeted the inheritances in Turkey of Turkish citizens who died abroad or about whom an absentee ruling had been issued.
THEY TARGETED PEOPLE WITH NO HEIRS
In the work carried out by police teams, it was determined that the suspects especially followed files belonging to people with no heirs. It was determined that the suspects prepared forged documents in order to seize the money in inheritance accounts.
THEY SENT THE PEOPLE THEY USED AS "JOKERS" TO THE BANK
The details of the fraud method were also revealed by the investigation. It was determined that the suspects used people with physical characteristics similar to the heirs as "jokers". It was determined that these people, who went to bank branches with forged passports, withdrew the money in the inheritance accounts. It was revealed that the money taken from the accounts was transferred to the suspects and their first-degree relatives in an attempt to make it untraceable.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION IN 3 PROVINCES: 11 DETENTIONS
Within the scope of the investigation, simultaneous operations were organized in Istanbul, Bilecik and Kırklareli in the morning hours. During raids on the identified addresses, 11 suspects were detained, and a large number of digital materials were seized during searches.
A FORMER LAWYER WANTED ON 19 SEPARATE CHARGES WAS ALSO CAUGHT
It was revealed that one of the suspects caught in the operation was a former lawyer with a wanted record for 19 separate crimes. It was stated that the person in question was wanted for many crimes, including fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust and theft through information systems. The 11 suspects taken into custody were taken to the police station for their procedures at the police headquarters.