Türkiye's crackdown on social media fraud nets 24 arrests in nationwide operation

In a major operation led by Türkiye's gendarmerie, 24 individuals were detained across nine provinces, including Istanbul, for their involvement in fraudulent schemes that exploited social media platforms promising high earnings.

The operation is part of an ongoing investigation initiated by the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which began in October 2024 and continued through January 2025, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

The investigation has so far led to the detention of 45 suspects. As part of their efforts, authorities expanded their inquiry by examining voice recordings, photographs, documents, call data records (HTS), MASAK data, and information obtained from payment and electronic money institutions, as well as cryptocurrency service providers.

The probe revealed that some of the suspects were involved in financial activities totaling TL 4.6 billion ($120 million) between 2017 and 2024. On April 18, gendarmerie teams carried out coordinated operations in Istanbul, Kayseri, Ankara, Kırıkkale, Yozgat, Adıyaman, Şanlıurfa, Trabzon, and Adana, arresting 24 individuals. After their initial statements were taken, five suspects were released, pending further investigation. 

The remaining 19 individuals were referred to court. In the earlier stages of the investigation, 40 out of the 45 suspects arrested in previous operations were formally detained by the magistrate’s court, while five others were released with judicial control conditions.

By Naila Huseynova