Introduction

Foreign nationals can become victims of fraud in Turkey in many different circumstances.

A foreign investor may transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars for a property that does not exist.

A tourist may pay a deposit for a rental apartment advertised through a fake online account.

An overseas buyer may send money to a Turkish company for machinery, textiles or other goods that are never delivered.

A foreign entrepreneur may be convinced to invest in a fictitious business.

A medical tourist may make payment to a fake clinic.

A person may receive a call from someone pretending to be:

• a police officer;
• prosecutor;
• bank employee;
• immigration officer;
• lawyer;
• customs officer; or
• government official.

Another increasingly common scenario involves internet and banking fraud.

The victim may be persuaded to:

• send money to a Turkish IBAN;
• disclose an SMS verification code;
• approve a mobile banking transaction;
• transfer cryptocurrency;
• purchase USDT;
• send funds to a payment institution account;
• or transfer money through several different bank accounts.

When this happens, foreign victims often make one critical mistake:

They focus only on reporting the fraud and assume that filing a criminal complaint will automatically bring the money back.

It may not.

A Turkish fraud case usually contains two separate objectives:

1. Criminal objective: identify, investigate and prosecute the offender.
2. Financial objective: trace, freeze and recover the victim’s money.

A criminal complaint is extremely important, but it should be combined with an immediate asset-recovery strategy wherever possible.

Speed can be decisive.

A fraudster who receives TRY 5 million into a Turkish bank account may transfer the money to several other accounts within minutes.

Funds may then be:

• withdrawn in cash;
• transferred through payment institutions;
• converted into cryptocurrency;
• moved to another person’s account;
• used to purchase assets; or
• transferred outside Turkey.

Turkey significantly strengthened its legal mechanisms for rapidly freezing funds connected with cyber-enabled fraud at the end of 2025. The new Article 128/A of the Turkish Criminal Procedure Code allows banks, payment service providers and crypto-asset service providers to suspend accounts for up to 48 hours in specified cyber-fraud cases, with subsequent judicial or prosecutorial seizure procedures and the possibility of returning identified criminal proceeds to the victim.

For a foreign fraud victim, therefore, the first hours can be considerably more important than the first months.

What Is Fraud Under Turkish Criminal Law?

The basic offence of fraud is regulated under Article 157 of Turkish Criminal Code No. 5237.

The offence essentially involves deceiving another person through fraudulent conduct and thereby obtaining an unlawful benefit for the offender or another person at the victim’s expense.

The Ministry of Justice describes the essential structure in the same way: fraudulent conduct must deceive the victim and produce an unlawful benefit while causing loss to the victim or another person.

Under the current text of Article 157, simple fraud is punishable by imprisonment from one to five years and a judicial fine of up to 5,000 days.

However, many modern fraud cases are not treated as simple fraud.

What Is Aggravated Fraud — Nitelikli Dolandırıcılık?

Article 158 regulates aggravated fraud — nitelikli dolandırıcılık.

It applies where fraud is committed through certain circumstances or methods regarded by Turkish law as more serious.

Examples include fraud involving:

• information systems;
• banks or credit institutions;
• exploitation of religious beliefs;
• abuse of a person’s difficult situation;
• public institutions;
• commercial activities by merchants or company managers;
• insurance;
• representation as a public official;
• representation as an employee of a bank, insurance company or credit institution; and
• other circumstances listed in Article 158.

Modern online scams frequently fall within Article 158 because the fraud is carried out through information systems or banking infrastructure.

The current general penalty under Article 158 is imprisonment from three to ten years together with a judicial fine of up to 10,000 days, while additional special minimum rules apply to certain qualified forms.

Common Scams Targeting Foreigners in Turkey

Foreigners can encounter several recurring patterns.

Property Investment Scams

A person is offered:

• an apartment;
• land;
• hotel room investment;
• citizenship investment property;
• construction project;
• or commercial real estate.

The victim transfers money but later discovers that:

• the seller does not own the property;
• the property is heavily mortgaged;
• the project does not exist;
• the title deed is fake;
• the same property was sold repeatedly;
• or the person receiving the money had no authority to sell.

Fake Rental Properties

Foreigners searching online for apartments may transfer a reservation fee or several months’ rent before arriving in Turkey.

The supposed landlord then disappears.

International Trade Fraud

A foreign company orders:

• machinery;
• textiles;
• furniture;
• food products;
• construction materials;
• spare parts; or
• industrial equipment

from a Turkish seller.

The buyer pays but the goods are never shipped.

However, not every failed commercial transaction is criminal fraud. This distinction is extremely important and discussed below.

Fake Lawyer or Government Official Scams

The victim receives a telephone call or WhatsApp message saying:

“You are involved in a criminal investigation.”

or:

“Your residence permit will be cancelled.”

or:

“Your bank account is linked to terrorism.”

The caller then requests payment.

The Ministry of Justice specifically warns that genuine public officials do not telephone citizens and demand money in this way.

Bank Employee Impersonation

The fraudster says:

“There is a suspicious transaction on your account.”

The victim is asked to disclose:

• SMS codes;
• passwords;
• card details;
• or mobile banking authorization.

In March 2026, for example, the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced a prosecution involving suspects who allegedly impersonated bank employees, obtained SMS verification codes and transferred victims’ money through controlled accounts.

Cryptocurrency and Investment Scams

The victim may be offered:

• guaranteed crypto returns;
• forex trading;
• fake stock investments;
• mining projects;
• investment funds;
• or fictitious exchanges.

The platform may display artificial profits before demanding additional payments to supposedly release the funds.

Not Every Unpaid Debt Is Fraud

This is one of the most important legal distinctions in Turkish practice.

A criminal complaint should establish deception, not merely non-payment.

Consider these two examples.

Example 1 — Civil Dispute

A Turkish supplier genuinely owns a factory.

The company signs a contract to supply 10,000 products.

Because of financial difficulties, production fails and the supplier cannot deliver the order.

There may be:

• breach of contract;
• debt;
• damages;
• and civil liability.

But failure to perform does not automatically establish criminal fraud.

Example 2 — Potential Fraud

A person claims to own a factory that never existed.

They send fake production photographs and forged documents.

They collect USD 300,000 while never intending or having the ability to manufacture the goods.

This can present a substantially stronger fraud scenario.

The Ministry of Justice specifically notes that proving fraudulent conduct is essential; otherwise a complaint can be regarded as an ordinary creditor-debtor or civil dispute.

For this reason, a strong fraud complaint should explain:

What exactly was false?

Who made the false statement?

When was it made?

Why did the victim believe it?

What payment was made because of that deception?

What evidence shows the deception existed from the beginning?

What Should You Do Immediately After Discovering the Scam?

The correct response depends on the type of fraud, but a foreign victim should usually take several actions immediately.

1. Contact the Bank or Financial Institution

If the money was transferred recently, contact:

• the sending bank;
• receiving bank if known;
• payment institution;
• or crypto platform.

Explain that the payment is disputed as fraudulent.

Ask for the transaction to be flagged and determine whether a recall, suspension or fraud procedure is available.

A bank cannot necessarily reverse a completed transfer merely because the sender asks.

However, early notification can become important when combined with criminal investigation and account-freezing mechanisms.

2. Preserve All Evidence

Do not delete:

• WhatsApp conversations;
• Telegram messages;
• emails;
• SMS;
• advertisements;
• websites;
• invoices;
• contracts;
• screenshots;
• cryptocurrency wallet addresses;
• IBAN information;
• payment receipts;
• voice messages;
• photographs; or
• social-media profiles.

3. Do Not Continue Sending Money

Fraudsters often request a final payment for:

• tax;
• customs;
• release fee;
• insurance;
• commission;
• account verification;
• lawyer fee; or
• anti-money-laundering clearance.

Victims sometimes lose more money after discovering the original problem because they are promised:

“Pay one final amount and your entire investment will be returned.”

4. Prepare a Chronology

A useful fraud file should identify:

• first contact;
• representations made;
• money requested;
• bank accounts used;
• payments;
• promises;
• deadlines;
• excuses;
• and the point at which the victim discovered the deception.

5. File the Criminal Complaint Quickly

A delay can allow funds to disappear through several layers of accounts.

Where Can a Foreign Victim File a Criminal Complaint?

The Ministry of Justice states that fraud victims may apply to the nearest:

• police station; or
• Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation is ultimately conducted under the authority of the Public Prosecutor — Cumhuriyet Savcısı.

The prosecutor can direct police or gendarmerie to collect evidence, including:

• statements;
• bank records;
• reports;
• digital records;
• documents;
• witness evidence;
• and other investigative material.

In major internet-fraud cases, specialized cybercrime and fraud investigation units may also become involved.

Is Fraud Subject to a Six-Month Complaint Deadline?

Ordinary fraud offences should not be confused with offences whose prosecution depends upon a formal complaint within six months.

The Ministry of Justice expressly identifies fraud among offences that are not dependent on the victim maintaining a formal complaint; even if the victim later withdraws the complaint, the public prosecutor may continue the investigation.

This does not mean victims should wait.

Criminal limitation periods exist, civil claims have separate limitation issues, and—most importantly—money can disappear long before a criminal limitation period becomes relevant.

For fund recovery:

hours are often more important than years.

What Evidence Should Be Submitted With the Complaint?

A useful complaint should normally include all available evidence capable of identifying both the fraud and movement of money.

Examples include:

• passport and identity information;
• bank transfer receipt;
• recipient IBAN;
• recipient name;
• SWIFT documents;
• cryptocurrency wallet addresses;
• transaction hashes;
• exchange records;
• telephone numbers;
• email addresses;
• website domain;
• WhatsApp messages;
• Telegram usernames;
• company records;
• invoice;
• sales contract;
• investment agreement;
• property documents;
• advertisements;
• voice recordings lawfully obtained;
• photographs;
• social-media profiles;
• and witness names.

The victim has a procedural right to request collection of evidence during the investigation. The current CMK Article 234 framework expressly gives victims and complainants rights including requesting evidence and, through counsel, reviewing investigation material within statutory limitations.

The complaint should therefore not simply say:

“I was scammed. Please find the offender.”

It should identify concrete investigative steps.

Ask Authorities to Trace the Money

Where payment was made through a bank, the investigation should generally determine:

• receiving account;
• account holder;
• transaction time;
• subsequent transfers;
• cash withdrawals;
• other recipient accounts;
• payment institutions;
• crypto exchanges;
• and, where technically available, connected transaction chains.

The first IBAN used in a fraud is not necessarily where the money remains.

Money can pass through:

Account A → Account B → payment institution → crypto platform → wallet.

Early tracing can therefore be critical.

The 2026 Rapid Account-Freezing System: CMK Article 128/A

One of the most important recent developments for victims of online fraud is Article 128/A of the Criminal Procedure Code, introduced by Law No. 7571 at the end of 2025.

The provision applies to specified crimes including:

• certain forms of cyber-enabled aggravated theft;
• aggravated fraud under TCK Article 158/1-f;
• fraud committed through impersonation of public officials or banking-related personnel under Article 158/1-l; and
• misuse of bank or credit cards.

Where reasonable suspicion exists, a:

• bank;
• payment service provider; or
• crypto-asset service provider

may suspend the relevant account for up to 48 hours.

This is particularly important for online fraud victims because modern fraud proceeds can otherwise disappear almost immediately.

What Happens During the 48-Hour Suspension?

The financial institution must send:

• information concerning the suspension;
• account movements;
• and relevant documentation

to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office immediately.

The account holder must also be notified and can apply to the prosecutor for removal of the suspension. The prosecutor must decide that request within 24 hours.

Where the suspicious proceeds are transferred to another institution before the first suspension is completed, the first institution can notify the next institution so that the transaction chain can be followed.

This is one reason fraud victims should react immediately after discovering an unauthorized or deceptively induced payment.

Can the Money Be Formally Seized?

Yes, subject to the legal requirements.

During the Article 128/A suspension period, the criminal proceeds can be seized:

• by judicial decision; or
• in urgent circumstances, through a written prosecutorial order subject to rapid judicial approval.

Where seizure occurs without an initial judicial order, it must be submitted to the competent judge within 24 hours, and the judge must decide within the statutory period; otherwise the seizure automatically ends.

Traditional seizure mechanisms under CMK Article 128 may also become relevant depending upon the offence and circumstances.

The recovery strategy therefore needs to identify which seizure mechanism applies to the particular fraud.

Can Seized Fraud Money Be Returned Directly to the Victim?

This is one of the most valuable features of the new Article 128/A.

The legislation expressly provides that where the seized criminal proceeds are established to belong to the person harmed by the offence, they can be returned to the owner during the investigation or prosecution stage.

This means that, in an appropriate cyber-fraud case, a victim may not necessarily have to wait for every appeal in the criminal proceedings to be completed before identified funds can be restored.

The practical difficulty is tracing and identifying the victim’s money before it is dissipated.

Example: A Foreigner Transfers USD 100,000 to a Fake Investment Account

Assume a Canadian investor living in Turkey is contacted by a person claiming to manage investments for a legitimate financial institution.

The victim transfers USD 100,000 equivalent to a Turkish bank account.

Two hours later, the victim calls the real financial institution and discovers that the representative was fake.

The correct strategy is not:

“I will wait until tomorrow and then prepare a detailed complaint.”

Immediate steps should include:

• notifying the sending bank;
• preserving the IBAN and payment documents;
• preserving the messages;
• filing the criminal complaint;
• identifying the Article 158 fraud basis;
• asking authorities to trace subsequent account movements;
• and seeking rapid account preservation where the statutory framework applies.

If funds remain within the banking system, every hour can matter.

The Person Whose IBAN Received the Money May Not Be the Main Fraudster

Modern fraud networks frequently use money mule accounts.

A person may allow another individual to use:

• bank account;
• debit card;
• credit card;
• payment account;
• crypto account; or
• login information.

The true organizers may never communicate directly with the victim.

This matters for foreign victims because seeing one name on the bank receipt does not necessarily identify the entire criminal organization.

The investigation should therefore continue beyond the first account holder.

Turkey addressed this problem again through the 12th Judicial Package.

Law No. 7589, adopted on 16 July 2026 and published in the Official Gazette on 31 July 2026, added a new paragraph to TCK Article 158 concerning persons whose participation in fraud is limited to knowingly providing payment instruments or account access for the purpose of obtaining unlawful benefit.

The new Article 158/4 provides a half reduction where the person’s participation is limited to providing such payment instruments or account information under the statutory conditions.

For the victim, the practical point is simple:

Do not stop the investigation at the first IBAN.

Criminal Complaint Does Not Automatically Mean Fund Recovery

This distinction cannot be emphasized enough.

The criminal justice system asks:

Did the suspect commit fraud?

The victim’s financial objective asks:

Where is the money, and how can it be recovered?

These questions overlap but they are not identical.

The Ministry of Justice itself states that victims may seek material and moral damages arising from fraud through a separate compensation action before the civil courts.

Therefore, depending upon the case, the victim may need a combined strategy consisting of:

• criminal complaint;
• seizure requests;
• civil lawsuit;
• enforcement proceedings;
• and precautionary attachment.

Civil Compensation After Fraud

Fraud generally creates a wrongful loss.

Turkish private law can potentially support claims based on:

• tort;
• contract;
• unjust enrichment;
• or another appropriate legal cause.

The correct legal basis depends upon the facts.

For example:

A fraudster receives money after deliberate false statements.

That can create tort-based compensation liability.

A supposed supplier receives advance payment under a contract.

The case may contain contractual claims as well.

A person receives money without a valid legal basis.

Unjust enrichment principles may become relevant.

The victim should not assume that a single criminal judgment is the only available path to monetary recovery.

Precautionary Attachment — İhtiyati Haciz

A civil recovery strategy may sometimes include precautionary attachment — ihtiyati haciz.

This is a temporary protective measure designed to prevent a debtor from disposing of assets before the creditor can enforce a final judgment.

Article 257 of the Turkish Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law establishes the statutory framework for precautionary attachment of assets relating to qualifying unsecured monetary claims. Turkish case law consistently applies Article 257 as a provisional measure protecting future recovery.

Potentially attachable assets can include:

• bank accounts;
• vehicles;
• real estate;
• receivables;
• and other assets.

However, the court must be satisfied that the statutory requirements are met.

The measure is not automatically granted simply because the claimant alleges fraud.

A properly documented case is therefore essential.

Why Precautionary Attachment Can Matter

Consider this example.

A foreign buyer pays EUR 400,000 for a supposed investment.

The fraudster owns:

• an Istanbul apartment;
• two vehicles;
• and money in another Turkish bank account.

If the victim spends two years obtaining a final civil judgment without seeking asset protection, those assets may disappear.

A successful precautionary attachment can help preserve recovery possibilities while the substantive dispute continues.

Criminal seizure and civil precautionary attachment serve different purposes and can sometimes need to be considered in parallel.

What About Property Scams?

Property fraud involving foreigners can be especially valuable financially.

Possible evidence should include:

• title deed records;
• Land Registry documents;
• seller’s identification;
• power of attorney;
• bank transfer;
• sale contract;
• property advertisements;
• valuation documents;
• and communications.

The criminal analysis should determine whether false representations existed when the victim was induced to pay.

Separately, private-law remedies may involve:

• return of purchase money;
• cancellation/registration claims depending on the structure;
• damages;
• unjust enrichment;
• and protective measures over property or money.

A foreigner should avoid accepting the explanation:

“You filed a criminal complaint, so now just wait.”

Asset recovery should be reviewed independently.

What About Fake Rental Scams?

Suppose a foreign student sees an apartment in Istanbul advertised on social media.

The person claiming to be the landlord demands:

• two months’ rent;
• deposit;
• and commission.

After receiving the payment, the account disappears.

The victim should preserve:

• listing;
• account profile;
• photographs;
• telephone number;
• bank account;
• payment description;
• and messages.

Image searches and platform information can also become relevant because fraudsters often copy photographs from legitimate listings.

International Trade Fraud: Criminal Case or Commercial Dispute?

This area requires particular care.

A foreign company may say:

“We paid USD 500,000 and never received the goods. This is fraud.”

Possibly.

But the prosecution will likely ask whether this was:

fraud from the beginning

or

a later commercial failure.

Evidence supporting fraudulent intent from the outset can include:

• fake factory address;
• false company registration;
• fake shipping documents;
• fabricated invoices;
• non-existent goods;
• repeated similar victims;
• diversion of funds immediately after payment;
• fake references;
• or the seller disappearing immediately after receiving the funds.

Conversely, evidence that the seller genuinely attempted performance may support characterization as a civil dispute.

A criminal complaint should therefore explain the fraud rather than merely reproducing the unpaid invoice.

Cryptocurrency Fraud

Crypto cases require particularly fast evidence preservation.

The victim should save:

• wallet address;
• transaction hash;
• network;
• token type;
• exchange account;
• screenshots;
• chats;
• exchange withdrawal records;
• and fiat transfer documents.

The new CMK Article 128/A expressly includes crypto-asset service providers within the institutions that can suspend qualifying accounts in specified cyber-fraud investigations.

This is an important development because criminal proceeds no longer necessarily remain within a traditional bank.

What If the Scammer Used a Fake Company?

A company name does not necessarily mean the company is the only relevant suspect.

The investigation should determine:

• who incorporated the company;
• shareholders;
• managers;
• bank account signatories;
• persons controlling internet banking;
• actual commercial activity;
• office address;
• invoicing;
• and money transfers after payment.

A shell company may be used only as a vehicle for the fraud.

The individuals directing the operation must be identified separately.

What If the Fraudster Offers to Repay the Money?

Repayment can materially affect the criminal case.

The Ministry of Justice notes that restitution of the victim’s loss during investigation or prosecution can have sentencing consequences under Turkish criminal law.

This can create a strong incentive for offenders to compensate victims.

However, a victim should carefully distinguish between:

actual repayment

and

another promise to repay later.

A settlement should clearly state:

• amount;
• currency;
• payment date;
• instalments;
• default consequences;
• legal proceedings affected;
• and whether the victim is releasing civil claims.

Never withdraw protective measures merely because the suspect says:

“I promise to pay next month.”

Simple Fraud and Reconciliation

The Ministry of Justice states that simple fraud falls within Turkey’s criminal reconciliation procedure.

Where applicable, the file may be referred to a reconciliation office and a reconciliation process can be conducted between the parties. If no settlement is reached, the investigation continues.

This can sometimes create an efficient recovery opportunity.

However, aggravated fraud generally presents a different procedural structure.

A victim should therefore first determine the exact legal classification of the conduct.

Which Court Hears Aggravated Fraud Cases in 2026?

This area changed substantially at the end of 2025.

Older Turkish legal materials often state that aggravated fraud under TCK Article 158 is tried before a High Criminal Court — Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi.

That is no longer an accurate general statement for new cases.

Law No. 7571, adopted on 24 December 2025 and published on 25 December 2025, removed aggravated fraud from the specific list of offences assigned to High Criminal Courts. The same legislation included transitional protection for cases that were already pending under the former jurisdictional structure.

The Council of Judges and Prosecutors subsequently issued a specialization decision specifically establishing Criminal Courts of First Instance — Asliye Ceza Mahkemeleri to deal with aggravated fraud cases under the new regime. That specialization decision entered into force following publication on 27 December 2025.

Accordingly, a 2026 fraud article that automatically states:

“Aggravated fraud is always heard before the High Criminal Court”

is outdated.

Pending legacy cases must be evaluated under the transitional rule.

What Rights Does a Fraud Victim Have During the Investigation?

Under CMK Article 234, victims and complainants have important procedural rights.

These include, subject to statutory conditions:

• requesting collection of evidence;
• obtaining certain document copies from the prosecutor;
• having counsel examine investigation materials;
• and challenging a decision not to prosecute.

A foreign victim should use these rights actively.

A criminal complaint should not be filed and forgotten.

The file may require follow-up concerning:

• bank responses;
• identification of account holders;
• IP information;
• telephone subscribers;
• company records;
• asset inquiries;
• or new victims connected with the same suspect.

What If the Prosecutor Closes the Investigation?

Where the prosecutor concludes that prosecution is not justified, a decision of non-prosecution — Kovuşturmaya Yer Olmadığına Dair Karar (KYOK) may be issued.

Turkish criminal procedure provides a formal objection mechanism against such decisions. The victim should review the service date and remedy notice immediately rather than allowing the decision to become final.

An effective objection should normally address:

• evidence that was ignored;
• investigative steps not taken;
• incorrect characterization as a civil dispute;
• unresolved bank records;
• unidentified account holders;
• contradictory suspect statements;
• and other deficiencies.

Can a Foreign Victim Handle the Case From Abroad?

Often, substantial parts of the Turkish process can be managed through Turkish legal representation.

A foreign victim who has returned to:

• the United Kingdom;
• United States;
• Germany;
• China;
• UAE;
• Saudi Arabia;
• Russia;
• or another country

does not automatically lose the right to pursue a Turkish fraud case.

In practice, an appropriately prepared power of attorney can allow Turkish counsel to conduct many procedural steps, although prosecutors or courts may still request the victim’s own statement or participation where necessary.

Foreign powers of attorney may require:

• notarization;
• apostille;
• consular legalization where applicable;
• and certified Turkish translation.

The requirements should be checked according to the issuing country and intended legal powers.

Do You Need to Travel to Turkey to File the Case?

Not always.

Whether personal attendance is necessary depends on:

• type of proceeding;
• prosecutor’s needs;
• evidence;
• stage of investigation;
• and representation arrangements.

Foreign victims should not postpone urgent bank and criminal measures merely because they cannot immediately fly to Turkey.

The urgent priority is preserving the financial trail.

Practical Recovery Strategy for Foreign Fraud Victims

A strong fraud recovery file can be structured as follows.

Step 1 — Stop Further Payments

Do not send additional “tax,” “release” or “verification” fees.

Step 2 — Notify the Financial Institution

Immediately flag the payment as fraud.

Step 3 — Preserve Digital Evidence

Take screenshots and export conversations.

Step 4 — Identify the Money Trail

Record:

• IBAN;
• bank;
• account holder;
• payment amount;
• currency;
• date;
• SWIFT reference;
• wallet;
• transaction hash; and
• subsequent transfers if known.

Step 5 — Prepare the Criminal Complaint

Explain the deception clearly.

Step 6 — Request Evidence Collection

Ask for relevant bank, telecom, digital and company records.

Step 7 — Request Rapid Fund Preservation

Where Article 128/A or another seizure provision is applicable, the file should clearly identify why urgent action is needed.

Step 8 — Search for Assets

Identify:

• real estate;
• vehicles;
• company shares;
• bank funds;
• receivables;
• and other attachable assets.

Step 9 — Consider Civil Recovery

Do not assume the criminal file is enough.

Step 10 — Consider Precautionary Attachment

Where the requirements are satisfied, protect assets before a final civil judgment.

Step 11 — Monitor the Criminal Investigation

Ensure requested evidence actually enters the file.

Step 12 — Evaluate Any Settlement Carefully

Payment matters more than promises.

Frequently Asked Questions

I was scammed in Turkey. Where do I report it?

You may report fraud to the police or Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Can a foreigner file a criminal complaint in Turkey?

Yes. Foreign nationality does not prevent a fraud victim from reporting a Turkish criminal offence.

Does filing a complaint automatically return my money?

No. Criminal investigation and financial recovery are related but separate objectives. The Ministry of Justice expressly notes that compensation may also be pursued through civil proceedings.

I transferred money to a Turkish IBAN. Can it be frozen?

Potentially. The available mechanism depends on the nature of the offence, timing and location of funds.

Can a bank freeze an account immediately in an online fraud case?

For the specific cyber-enabled offences listed in CMK Article 128/A, banks, payment service providers and crypto-asset providers can suspend qualifying accounts for up to 48 hours where reasonable suspicion exists.

Can money transferred to another account also be followed?

Article 128/A expressly provides for notification to another financial institution where criminal proceeds have already been transferred onward.

Can seized money be returned before the criminal trial ends?

Under Article 128/A, identified criminal proceeds belonging to the victim may be returned during the investigation or prosecution stage.

What if I paid in cryptocurrency?

Preserve the wallet address and transaction hash immediately. CMK Article 128/A expressly includes crypto-asset service providers for the listed offences.

What if the recipient says their bank account was only “rented” to someone else?

The investigation should identify who actually controlled the fraud and subsequent funds. The 2026 amendment to TCK Article 158 specifically addresses limited participation through provision of bank/payment/crypto account tools.

Is every unpaid invoice fraud?

No. Turkish authorities distinguish criminal deception from ordinary contractual or creditor-debtor disputes.

Can I sue separately to recover the money?

Potentially yes. Civil remedies may include contractual claims, tort compensation and other appropriate claims depending upon the facts.

Can I freeze the fraudster’s property before the civil case ends?

A precautionary attachment may be available where the statutory conditions of the Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law are satisfied.

Is there a six-month complaint deadline for fraud?

Fraud is generally prosecuted independently of maintaining a complaint; the Ministry of Justice expressly lists fraud among offences not dependent on complaint.

Should I still act immediately?

Absolutely. The legal ability to report an offence later does not mean the money will still be available later.

Can I recover money from a company scam?

Potentially, but the case should identify both the company’s contractual position and the individuals responsible for fraudulent conduct.

Do I have to stay in Turkey?

Not necessarily. Much of a case can often be handled through Turkish counsel, although personal statements or appearances can still be required in appropriate cases.

Which court currently hears aggravated fraud cases?

Following Law No. 7571 and the HSK specialization decision effective at the end of December 2025, new aggravated fraud cases generally fall within the Criminal Court of First Instance structure. Legacy cases already pending under the previous jurisdictional rules are governed by the transitional provision.

Conclusion

A foreigner who is scammed in Turkey should treat the problem as both a criminal case and an asset-recovery case from the first day.

The criminal complaint is essential.

Fraud under TCK Article 157 requires fraudulent conduct that deceives the victim and produces an unlawful benefit at the victim’s expense.

Where the fraud involves:

• internet systems;
• bank accounts;
• fake bank employees;
• impersonation of officials;
• or other qualifying circumstances,

the aggravated fraud provisions of TCK Article 158 may apply.

However, proving that a person failed to pay or perform a contract is not enough.

The complaint must explain the deception.

This is particularly important in international business cases.

A seller who genuinely intended to deliver goods but later became insolvent is legally different from someone who created fake documents and a fictitious company solely to obtain advance payment.

The second major issue is speed.

The modern fraud economy is based on rapid movement of money.

A victim may pay one bank account, but within minutes the money may have passed through several accounts and into cryptocurrency.

Turkey’s new CMK Article 128/A framework is therefore highly significant.

Since the end of 2025, banks, payment institutions and crypto-asset service providers have been able to suspend accounts for up to 48 hours where reasonable suspicion exists concerning specified cyber-enabled fraud and related offences.

The system also enables formal seizure and, critically, allows criminal proceeds shown to belong to the victim to be returned during the investigation or prosecution stage.

This creates a potentially powerful recovery route.

But it works best where the victim acts before the money disappears.

The third issue is evidence.

A strong foreign fraud complaint should preserve the complete digital and financial history:

• messages;
• contracts;
• advertisements;
• IBANs;
• SWIFT records;
• crypto transaction hashes;
• invoices;
• company details;
• websites;
• telephone numbers;
• and every representation that induced the payment.

A payment receipt proves that money moved.

It does not necessarily prove why the transaction was fraudulent.

The deception must also be documented.

The fourth issue is asset recovery outside the criminal case.

The Ministry of Justice confirms that victims may pursue material and moral losses caused by fraud through civil compensation proceedings.

Depending upon the transaction, the civil case may rely upon:

• tort;
• breach of contract;
• unjust enrichment;
• or another appropriate private-law basis.

Where assets are at risk of disappearing, precautionary attachment under Article 257 and following provisions of the Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law may also become important.

The practical strategy should therefore not be:

“File a complaint and wait.”

It should be:

report the fraud → trace the money → seek rapid preservation → identify the real perpetrators → search for assets → preserve civil recovery rights.

The fifth issue is understanding modern IBAN fraud networks.

The name shown on the first receiving bank account may not belong to the person who actually spoke to the victim.

Fraud networks frequently use third-party accounts.

Turkey’s most recent reform, Law No. 7589 published on 31 July 2026, specifically amended Article 158 to address participation limited to knowingly providing payment instruments or bank/payment/crypto account access for fraudulent benefit.
For victims, this means that investigation should follow the entire financial chain, not merely prosecute the first account holder.

Finally, foreign victims should be aware of procedural changes.

Older sources still frequently state that aggravated fraud is automatically tried before a High Criminal Court.

That changed with Law No. 7571 in December 2025.

The legislation removed TCK Article 158 from the specific High Criminal Court jurisdictional list and provided transitional protection for cases already pending. The HSK then established specialization among Criminal Courts of First Instance for new aggravated fraud files.
For international fraud victims, relying on outdated procedural information can therefore create avoidable confusion.

A foreign national who has lost money in Turkey should obtain legal review as early as possible, particularly where:

• the transfer was recent;
• the amount is significant;
• a Turkish IBAN was used;
• cryptocurrency is involved;
• the suspect owns identifiable Turkish assets;
• several victims may exist;
• or the fraud is connected with a Turkish company.

The probability of recovery usually depends not only on whether fraud can eventually be proven, but on whether the money or other assets can still be found when enforcement begins.

That is why effective fraud representation in Turkey should focus on prosecution and recovery simultaneously.

Legal Disclaimer

This article provides general legal information concerning fraud committed against foreign nationals in Turkey, criminal complaints and recovery of funds as of August 2026.

It does not constitute legal advice regarding any specific fraud, investment, bank transfer or cryptocurrency transaction.

The appropriate procedure depends upon matters including:

• nature of the deception;
• location of the victim and offender;
• bank accounts used;
• payment date;
• whether funds remain traceable;
• cryptocurrency involvement;
• company structures;
• evidence;
• available assets;
• civil contracts;
• criminal classification;
• and procedural deadlines.

Foreign individuals or companies that have recently transferred substantial funds to a suspected fraudster in Turkey should seek transaction-specific legal assistance promptly because delay may materially reduce the possibility of tracing or preserving recoverable assets.