180 Suspects Detained in Operation Targeting 3 Billion Lira Profiteering with Fake Websites
Turkish authorities have carried out a major crackdown on cybercrime, resulting in the arrest of 180 suspects in 40 provinces across the country. The operation, named “Spring Cleaning,” targeted individuals who had committed a variety of cybercrimes including “qualified fraud,” “seizure or dissemination of personal data,” and “laundering of property values arising from crime.”
The Anti-Cyber Crime Branch Directorate coordinated the operation under the direction of the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Efforts are underway to apprehend an additional 86 suspects.
One of the major scams involved the creation of fake websites, including those purporting to sell municipal bus cards and telephone top-up payments. In both cases, scammers defrauded Turkish citizens by taking payments for non-existent services.
The suspects also created fake websites for companies and institutions and ensured they appeared high in search engine rankings. This allowed them to collect credit card information from victims using “phishing” techniques, which was then used to commit fraud. The group made a profit of around TRY 3 billion ($330 million) through these schemes.
Authorities have been able to trace the money to company accounts, which were then transferred to different company accounts and crypto-currency firms, with the funds used to purchase foreign currency to further obscure their tracks.
This crackdown is a major victory for Turkish law enforcement in the fight against cybercrime. It illustrates the scale and sophistication of scams being conducted online and how cybercriminals are using increasingly insidious techniques to prey on unsuspecting victims. It also highlights the importance of vigilance and caution when conducting online transactions in an increasingly digital world.
