20 Million TL Scam in Şanlıurfa by Impersonating Police/Prosecutor: 6 Detentions

In Şanlıurfa, an operation was carried out against a major fraud network that defrauded hundreds of citizens using communication methods, with the financial damage reaching 20 million TL. Under the coordination of the Birecik Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and carried out by Şanlıurfa Provincial Police Directorate teams, simultaneous raids were conducted on targets identified as engaging in qualified fraud as a result of detailed work. It is alleged that the suspects were part of a criminal organization for which they acted as intermediaries and obtained money by keeping victims under psychological pressure on the phone.

6 suspects detained within the scope of the operation were sent to prison after being arrested by the judicial authorities they were referred to following the completion of their initial statements and interrogations at the police department. It was announced that numerous digital materials and documents considered as evidence were seized in searches at the suspects' residences within the scope of the investigation. The examination of these seized materials is expected to provide important data that will reveal the organizational structure and criminal history of the network.

According to information received from the prosecutor's office and police officials, it was determined that the suspects used the tactic of calling citizens and introducing themselves as police officers, judges, or prosecutors as their fraud method. Victims were convinced with frightening scenarios such as being accused of a crime, their accounts being frozen, or needing to transfer their money to certain accounts for their safety. It was stated that with this method, the suspects managed to collect high amounts of money in a short time and caused the victimization of the victims to deepen.

In examinations, it was determined that the network unjustly seized a total of 20 million 345 thousand TL from its victims. Emphasis was placed on the importance of the incident as this amount is one of the highest figures seized in a single operation in the region recently. Warnings were made that fraud crimes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, especially with the widespread use of communication technologies and the introduction of new methods, and that citizens need to be more careful and skeptical against such situations.

Security forces announced that following the successful conclusion of the operation, work continues uninterruptedly to deepen the investigation and capture other associates of the suspects who may still be at large. Through official channels, citizens were warned to show sensitivity against people who introduce themselves as official officials and demand money, to treat money demands received by phone with suspicion, and to report the situation to the nearest law enforcement officers.