$3M Fake Device Ring Busted as Police Detain 90 Across 19 Provinces
Turkish police detained 90 suspects across 19 provinces in simultaneous raids centered in Eskişehir after unraveling a 116 million lira ($3 million) telecommunications fraud network. The syndicate targeted hundreds of internet subscribers nationwide, tricking victims into paying for non-functional hardware under the guise of mandatory network upgrades.
Caller Network Swindled 801 Victims Through Cash-on-Delivery Deliveries
Callers telephoned victims while posing as representatives of established telecommunications and internet companies, falsely warning that impending infrastructure upgrades would render existing modems obsolete and cause higher monthly bills. Believing the warning, targets accepted replacement equipment shipped directly to their homes and paid courier fees upfront, receiving useless or low-value devices in exchange for cash.
The operation marks another step in Turkey’s ongoing campaign against structured cybercrime networks, following repeated crackdowns on online scams, identity theft, and money laundering across the country.
