Turkish Fraud Ring Busted: Scammers Impersonated Notaries in Vehicle Sales Scheme

A fraud ring based in Bursa, Turkey, targeted online vehicle sellers by deceiving them into sending money under the guise of "deposits." The group then evolved their scheme by impersonating notary officials to gain trust and convince victims to authorize suspicious money transfers through banking apps. After a 3-month investigation, simultaneous operations across 7 provinces resulted in 17 arrests and the identification of approximately 70 fraud cases totaling 4.2 million Turkish lira in losses.

How the Scam Works

This fraud ring targeted used vehicle sellers on the internet through the following methods:

Initial Phase: Used banking app features to send fake "deposit" (kaparo) payment requests to vehicle sellers
Evolved Phase: Impersonated notary officials by phone, claiming the banking app requests were legitimate deposit approvals that needed authorization

The scammers used unregistered mobile phone numbers for communications and laundered proceeds through bank accounts and asset purchases.

Scale of the Fraud

Number of Cases: Approximately 70 fraud incidents nationwide
Total Loss: 4.2 million Turkish lira
Geographic Reach: Multiple provinces across Turkey
Suspects Arrested: 17 individuals (10 formally charged)

Warning Signs and Red Flags

How to Identify This Scam

Receiving unexpected "deposit" payment requests through banking apps during online vehicle purchase negotiations
Phone calls from people claiming to be notary officials asking you to authorize bank app transactions
Legitimate notary officials never conduct business this way
Artificial urgency or pressure to complete transactions quickly
Requests to use banking app functions for transaction approvals

Prevention Tips

Verify Directly: If contacted by someone claiming to be a notary official, hang up and call the notary office directly to verify
Understand Banking: Banks and notaries will never ask you to authorize transfers through messaging features
Use Established Services: Conduct used vehicle transactions through licensed dealers or verified platforms
Scrutinize Requests: Question any unexpected payment requests, especially those framed as "deposits"
Report Suspicious Activity: Immediately contact your bank if you receive suspicious payment requests
Document Everything: Keep records of all communications and transaction attempts

Where to Report

Turkish National Police Fraud Division
Your bank's customer service and fraud department
Consumer Protection Authority
Local law enforcement agencies

Law Enforcement Action

Turkish authorities conducted a 3-month investigation coordinated by the Mustafakemalpaşa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Simultaneous operations were conducted in Bursa, Antalya, Mersin, Şanlıurfa, Istanbul, Osmaniye, and Ankara. As a result, 17 suspects were detained, 10 were formally charged, and 6 were released under judicial supervision. Investigators seized multiple digital materials, 2 vehicles, and 1 property linked to the proceeds of the crimes.