Turkish minister: 73 Arrested in nationwide fraud crackdown

In a sweeping operation targeting fraud networks across Türkiye, 73 individuals have been arrested as part of a coordinated crackdown spanning 17 provinces, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

The large-scale operation, carried out in coordination with the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and the General Directorate of Security’s Public Security Department, resulted in the capture of 160 suspects linked to 17 separate fraud rings. Authorities stated that the suspects defrauded at least 402 citizens through various schemes, the minister shared on X, Caliber.Az reports.

"17 ilde 17 ayrı dolandırıcı şebekesine yönelik düzenlediğimiz operasyonlarda 73 TUTUKLAMA!"

17 ilde 17 ayrı dolandırıcı şebekesine yönelik düzenlediğimiz operasyonlarda; 402 vatandaşımızı dolandırdığı tespit edilen 160 şüpheli yakalandı.❗️

Şüphelilerden;
⛔73'ü TUTUKLANDI.… pic.twitter.com/prOzhsozl6

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) May 12, 2025

According to him, out of the 160 detained, 73 have been formally arrested, while judicial control measures were imposed on 87 others. 

The operations, led by provincial police public security branches, were conducted in Adana, Antalya, Balıkesir, Bayburt, Çanakkale, Diyarbakır, Düzce, Elazığ, Eskişehir, İstanbul, İzmir, Kırklareli, Kırıkkale, Nevşehir, Osmaniye, Sakarya, and Tunceli.

According to officials, the suspects employed several fraudulent tactics, such as impersonating public officials to deceive victims; selling counterfeit or low-quality gold to jewellers; and running fake advertisements on social media to market nonexistent products.

Authorities have seized assets worth approximately 114 million Turkish lira ($2,9 million) belonging to the suspects.

Minister Yerlikaya praised the efforts of prosecutors, local governors, and police units involved.

“Together with your security forces, we continue our fight against criminal networks and illegal structures that defraud our citizens,” he wrote. 

By Sabina Mammadli