Fake bank call center in residence: Up to 210 years in prison requested for 8 suspects

In the investigation launched following the notifications sent to the corporate e-mail address of Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Forgery and Fraud Crimes Investigation Bureau, Cyber ​​Crimes Branch Directorate, it was determined that the suspects, who introduced themselves as bank personnel, intimidated citizens with statements such as "Money transfers were made to your account" and "Your account was logged in from another phone", and withdrew the money from their accounts by receiving the message codes sent to their phones.

Within the scope of the investigation, it was determined that the address used by the suspects to defraud the people they called was an apartment in a residence in Kadıköy Dumlupınar District. During the search at the residence, it was found that some laptops were open, headphones with microphones were attached to the computers, and people's personal information and bank information were displayed on the screens. During the search, various computers and communication equipment used by the suspects to carry out fraudulent activities through phone calls and messaging were also seized. In the indictment, it was stated that the complainants were called by phone using similar methods and made various banking transactions with the guidance of people who introduced themselves as bank employees. It was recorded that 14 complainants suffered losses of approximately 2.5 million lira.

In the indictment, it was stated that suspect Alinda Su A. confessed in her statement, that she personally witnessed the crimes committed by other suspects and that she knew that hundreds of people were wanted. Alinda Su A., who expressed regret, claimed that Baran A. was the person who kept the house and made the withdrawal of the money from the accounts after the meetings with the customers, while Gökay Ü. brought new people to the house, checked the environment and distributed the incoming money to the suspects.

In her statement, Alinda Su A. stated that Ali Emir E. and Ömer Ç. made calls and learned the debt status of the customers, that Ulaş Berk B. was at the head of the main computer, distributed the HGS records and other information from the Telegram group to the computers and checked the computers. He stated that Mine O. also sent SMS messages as if they were sent by the bank and took part in obtaining people's passwords. Alinda Su A. claimed that the seized money was sent to the IBAN accounts of some victims, then transferred to cold wallets and sent to jewelers in the Grand Bazaar after the tracking was stopped.

It was stated that the investigation report dated March 16 of Istanbul Provincial Police Department's Anti-Cyber ​​Crimes Branch was included in the indictment as evidence. It was noted in the report that it was determined that the suspects had previously called the complainants using a similar method and the same phone numbers within the scope of another investigation. The prosecutor's office stated that by evaluating the statements of the complainants, bank account movements, the investigation report of the Cyber ​​Crimes Branch Directorate and the statements of Alinda Su A., it was understood that the suspects introduced themselves as bank employees and took the money from the bank accounts by corrupting the will of the complainants.

In the indictment, it was requested that Alinda Su A. be punished 5 times from 6 to 10 years for the crime of 'fraud by introducing herself as a public official or employee of banks, insurance or credit institutions, or saying that she is associated with these institutions and organizations', and that Baran A., Gökay Ü., Ali Emir E., Ömer Ç., Ulaş Berk B., Mine O. and Berat Batuhan K. be punished separately 14 times for the same crime. A total of 30 years to 60 years of imprisonment was requested for Alinda Su A., and a total of 84 years to 210 years of imprisonment was requested for the other 7 suspects.