The investigation launched upon the complaint of a citizen who stated that he was defrauded due to the sale of sexual health products in Istanbul, revealed a large fraud network.
According to the news of Habertürk reporter Mustafa Şekeroğlu, following the complaint, Istanbul Police Department Public Order Branch Directorate Fraud Bureau teams started working under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
In their initial investigations, the police determined that the incident was not a simple product sales dispute. Deepening the investigation, the teams determined that they were faced with a fraud network operating through social media accounts, call centers and fake law offices.
THEY SOLVED THE FRAUD SYSTEM
Deepening the investigation, Fraud Bureau teams revealed the mind-blowing working method of the network. The network first established interconnected call centers. He then opened fake women's profiles on social media, giving the impression that they were experts in the field of sexual health. Sexual health and performance products began to be marketed through these accounts.
The network also began making phone sales by illegally obtaining citizens' personal information. However, the fraud system was not limited to product sales only. The real trap was prepared for citizens who did not receive the products.
THEY OPENED FAKE WOMEN EXPERT PROFILES
One of the accounts opened by the network on social media was created in the name of a woman who was introduced as a sexual health expert. In the profile named "Burcu Akyürek" on Instagram, posts were made on topics such as sexual reluctance, vaginismus and sexual performance problems. While the account created the impression that sexual health consultancy services were provided, the aim was for citizens to communicate. With such accounts, the network was trying to gain the trust of citizens looking for solutions to their sexual health problems.
THIS TIME THE LAW FIRM WAS IN ACTION
In the second stage of the system established by the network, there was the law firm trap. Citizens who ordered sexual health products but did not receive the products began to be called again after a while. This time, the people in front of them were introducing themselves as lawyers or law firm employees.
Citizens were told that a lawsuit would be filed against them and enforcement proceedings would be initiated because they did not receive the products they ordered. Money was being demanded from people who were intimidated by threats of litigation and enforcement. Thus, the network was targeting the same citizens a second time after selling the product.
THEY PREPARED A SPEECH TEXT FOR FRAUD
The network had even planned in advance how people working in call centers would talk to citizens. In one of the Excel files used on computers, there was a detailed speech text prepared to persuade and intimidate citizens.
According to the text, which began with the name "Contemporary Consultancy Bureau", it was said that the person sought had ordered a sexual performance product from a company registered with the Social Security Institution and the Ministry of Health. Then it was asked why the product was not received.
Later in the conversation, it was claimed that the product was in the pharmaceutical category and that legal sanctions would be imposed on citizens. They were threatened that if the order was not received, action would be taken on the grounds of creating a fake order and slowing down the workforce, and that the costs of the returned cargo would also be charged. The network was trying to reassure citizens by using the names of official institutions and then getting money by threatening litigation and enforcement.
THEY ALSO INTRODUCED THEM AS GOVERNMENT ELDERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Another fraud method used by the network was to exploit the national and moral feelings of citizens. The suspects introduced themselves as government officials or public officials to the people they called via their newly opened phone lines. During the meetings, they were trying to get money with various excuses by bringing up issues that citizens were sensitive about. Thus, the network continued its fraudulent activities by selling fake products and threatening law firms, as well as impersonating a public official.
SIMULTANEOUS RAID ON TWO CALL CENTERS
Fraud Bureau teams took action for the operation after determining the working method of the network and the addresses where it operates. Two separate call centers, which were found to be connected to each other, were raided. Police teams searched offices where many people were working on computers. During the operation, computers and digital materials were examined and 33 suspects were detained.
300 VICTIMS WERE IDENTIFIED, THE INVESTIGATION WAS EXPANDED
Following the operation, investigations into the activities of the suspects were deepened. Initial findings revealed that approximately 300 citizens were victimized by the fraud methods used by the network. Fraud Bureau teams examined a large number of seized digital materials and expanded their work to determine whether there were other victims and the size of the fraud network.
