'Joker' game exposed in inheritance scam: 11 detained
Quick Look
- Istanbul Financial Crimes Department has detected a network targeting the inheritances of Turkish citizens who have passed away or have been declared absent, living abroad.
- In the operation coordinated by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, simultaneous raids were carried out in Istanbul, Bilecik and Kırklareli and 11 suspects were detained.
- One of those caught was a former lawyer who was banned from practicing and was found to be related to 19 different wanted records.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Istanbul Financial Crimes Branch Directorate has detected a network targeting the inheritances of Turkish citizens who have passed away or have been declared absent, living abroad. It was determined that the network made unfair profits by using fake documents and 'wildcard' people with similar physical characteristics. It was understood that withdrawals were made from bank branch accounts through fake passports and joker persons, and the money was transferred to suspicious persons and first-degree relatives.
Teams affiliated with the Istanbul Financial Crimes Department detected a network that targeted Turkish citizens' inheritances in the country and made profiteering using fake documents and "wild card persons".
In the studies carried out against the crime of "Qualified Fraud by Using Forged Documents" under the coordination of the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office; It was determined that the heirs and inheritances of deceased Turkish citizens living abroad or for whom an absence decision was made in Türkiye were followed, and unfair profits were made by using fake documents and people with similar physical characteristics called "jokers".
It was understood that the network, which targets inheritance files and people without heirs, makes withdrawals from accounts in bank branches through "fake passports" and "wild card" persons, and tries to hide the traces of the money obtained from crime by transferring the withdrawn money to suspicious persons and their first-degree relatives. Following the technical and physical follow-up within the scope of the investigation, the button for the operation was pressed.
MANY DETENTIONS
This morning, a simultaneous operation was carried out in a total of 3 provinces, centered in Istanbul and including Bilecik and Kırklareli, against the suspects who were determined to be involved in criminal activities belonging to the network. During the raids, N.D., who was banned from practicing law, was arrested. 11 suspects, including a former lawyer named, were caught and detained.
A large number of digital materials were seized during the searches.
N.D., who was caught and banned from practicing law, was accused of "qualified fraud", "fraud", "abuse of duty", "abuse of trust due to service", "theft by using information systems", "fraud by introducing himself as a public official or employee of banks, insurance, credit institutions or saying that he is associated with these institutions", "fraud during the commercial activities of persons who are merchants or company managers or acting on behalf of the company or within the scope of the cooperative activities of cooperative managers", "fair It was determined that there were a total of 19 wanted records for the crimes of "attempting to influence the trial", "fraud by using information systems or credit institutions as a tool", "embezzlement" and "abuse of trust". The captured suspects were taken to the Istanbul Police Department Financial Branch Directorate for questioning.
The investigation into the detained persons continues in many aspects.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The 11 suspects taken into custody will be questioned and their trial will continue.
Very likely · Within days
More members of the network may be identified by examining the seized digital materials.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- How many people among the suspects detained had previously been sentenced?
- How many people in total did the network seize money from?
- Which banks and branches were targeted in the investigation?
- How the trial process of those detained will proceed
