Online Scams & Fraud in Turkey
In Turkey, Crypto scams, online shopping scams, and defective goods are some of the most common scams. These scams and frauds in Turkey have become a big problem, especially for people who shop online, also known as "distance contracts." These scams take advantage of people who are looking for the convenience of shopping on the Internet.
In 2022, the most common complaints were about "distance contracts" or internet shopping, followed by complaints about receiving faulty goods and services. These complaints are sent to the Ministry of Commerce for further action. The Ministry is like a guardian, standing strong and prepared to fight against the bad people who try to deceive and harm consumers in Turkey's online marketplace.
Read on to find out where you can report scams in Turkey, where to get victim support as well as the most popular scams.
Scam Statistics in Turkey
The key statistics on online fraud in Turkey, according to the Global Anti Scam Alliance.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2022 | |
| Population | 82.3 million | 83.4 million | 84.3 million | 85 million |
| Internet Penetration | 71% | 70% | 82% | 81% |
| # of Scams | 2630 | 1.9 Million | 1.94 million | |
| Scams / 1,000 | 23 | 23 | ||
| Money Lost | € 2.5 million | € 1,136 million | € 1.03 billion | |
| Money Lost / Capita | € 0.04 | € 13.47 | € 12.75 | |
| Money Lost / Report | € 1,331 | € 586 | € 558.4 |
The figures in the table will differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending on availability.
Where Can I Report a Scam in Turkey?
- The Police- You can report any online scam by dialing 155 or going to the police station closest to where the incident occurred to file a police report.
- Police Cybercrime Units- Most Police stations in Turkey have these units which specifically deal with online crime.
- Department of Cyber Security- You can report all forms of cybercrime including drugs and betting scams.
- CİMER- You can also register your complaint to the Presidential Communications Office, CİMER, by dialing 150, or by Fax at 0312 473 64 94, or through their website.
How to Report a Scam in Turkey
Reporting a scam is crucial. At the moment, only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0.05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.
- Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other relevant information. This is needed to file a complete report.
- Report the incident: Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
- Stop the Money: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
- Protect yourself: Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the ScamAdviser browser extension to warn you of scams.
Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.
Scam Victim Support in Turkey
We are unaware of any scam victim support group in Turkey.
How to Check for a Scam in Turkey
Of course, you can always check for scams on ScamAdviser.com. However, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services as well.
- General Directorate of Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance- They handle complaints related to scams and can provide advice and support. You can always check them out for consumer-related fraud.
- Capital Markets Board of Türkiye- You can check investment and financial-related scams here as they are the regulatory and supervisory authority in charge of the securities.
Anti-Scam Organizations & Consumer Authorities
- Consumer Protection Association (Tüketiciyi Koruma Derneği - TÜKODER)- TÜKODER is a non-governmental organization that aims to protect consumers' rights. They provide assistance to victims of scams and can offer guidance on how to proceed.
Scam News From Turkey
- Police detain more than 130 in major Forex scam op
- Market regulator closes 52 websites for unauthorized transactions
- Most Complaints about online shopping
Image source: unsplash.com
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