The Israeli suspect behind the billion-dollar scam: The identity of the 'mastermind' shaking Turkey revealed
Turkish authorities have revealed the identity of the main Israeli suspect allegedly behind a forex and crypto fraud network worth billions of liras. The network included 40 telemarketing centers in Istanbul and shell companies in Cyprus, causing European pensioners to lose their money. In a raid, 201 suspects were arrested, including at least nine Israelis.
Turkish authorities have revealed the identity of the main Israeli suspect allegedly behind a forex and crypto fraud network worth billions of liras. According to the Turkish Ministry of Justice, the network included 40 telemarketing centers in Istanbul and an extensive network of shell companies in Cyprus. Representatives speaking various languages convinced victims in different countries to invest in forex and digital currencies, presenting fictitious profits on platforms controlled by the suspects. When victims tried to withdraw their money, they were required to pay additional sums under headings such as "tax" or "account release." The affair was exposed last week when Turkish authorities raided dozens of call centers and financial offices in Istanbul and Mugla. The Turkish Ministry of Justice initially announced the arrest of 175 suspects out of 239 for whom arrest warrants were issued, and later the number of detainees rose to 201. Anadolu Agency reported that at least nine of the detainees hold Israeli citizenship. In total, more than 200 suspects were transferred for legal proceedings. Property worth approximately 1.5 billion Turkish liras was seized, along with dozens of vehicles and assets, and bank accounts and crypto wallets were frozen. Authorities estimate that the volume of financial transactions related to the network reached billions of liras within about two years. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that it is aware of the arrest of several Israeli citizens in Turkey and is working to ensure their rights are preserved. The investigation continues, with a focus on locating funds transferred out of Turkey and examining the connections between the Israeli suspects, the companies in Cyprus, and the operators of fraud centers in other countries.