Couple Defrauded of 100 Million Lira in Elaborate Turkish Scam

A sophisticated scam operation in Mudanya, Turkey, has defrauded an elderly couple of an estimated 100 million lira. The couple, identified as S.A. and her husband D.A., fell victim after receiving a text message and subsequent call from individuals claiming to be police officers.

The scammers instilled fear by alleging that bank accounts in the couple's names were being used to transfer money to terrorist organizations. Under the guise of a "fingerprint analysis," the suspects gained access to the couple's home, seizing 5 million lira worth of foreign currency and jewelry. The fraud extended to using the couple's credit cards through shell companies, resulting in 8 million lira in unauthorized spending.

Over a three-month period, the perpetrators also convinced the couple to sell their real estate, culminating in the staggering 100 million lira loss. In a final act to maintain trust, one of the scammers visited the couple's home, offering sweets and a new mobile phone, claiming it would be used for future "operations." During this visit, the scammer deleted all applications, banking transactions, and messages from the couple's old phone, effectively destroying digital evidence.

Following the couple's realization and complaint, Bursa police launched an investigation. Teams meticulously reviewed 70 hours of footage from 40 security cameras. This led to a coordinated operation across eight provinces and a border crossing, resulting in the apprehension of 14 suspects. Six individuals were arrested and charged, while five were released. Three other suspects involved in the scheme are reportedly already incarcerated for unrelated offenses.