Ankara, May 15 – An extensive operation led by the Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Ankara Provincial Police Department’s Cybercrime Branch has resulted in the apprehension of 41 suspects across 8 provinces. The individuals are accused of defrauding citizens of approximately 32 million 168 thousand Turkish Liras by falsely claiming to change telecom and internet infrastructure and demanding modem fees.
Investigation Uncovers Widespread Fraud Scheme
The investigation revealed that companies operating in the telecom/internet sector, primarily offering call center services but lacking official dealership agreements, obtained personal data of citizens through illegal “panel” systems. These suspects then contacted citizens via 0850 phone lines, informing them of supposed telecom/internet infrastructure changes and subsequently extorting money under the guise of modem fees.
Analysis of the fraudulent activities indicated that the suspects generated a total transaction volume of 32 million 168 thousand 86 lira and 25 kuruş through these illicit means, securing unjust financial gains.
Multi-Province Raids Lead to Numerous Arrests
In a simultaneous operation, law enforcement conducted raids across 8 provinces, including Ankara, Bursa, Elazığ, Istanbul, Kırıkkale, Kırşehir, Tekirdağ, and Trabzon. A total of 46 suspects were targeted in these operations.
During the raids, 41 suspects were taken into custody, and a significant amount of digital material was seized as evidence. Efforts are currently underway to locate and apprehend the remaining 5 fugitives.
The operation highlights the ongoing efforts by Turkish authorities to combat cybercrime and protect citizens from sophisticated fraud schemes. The Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that the investigation is ongoing, and further details will be released as they become available.
This case serves as a warning to citizens to be vigilant against unsolicited calls regarding infrastructure changes and to verify the authenticity of such requests directly with their service providers.
