Retired Turkish Banker Hasan Özkan Defrauded of 130,000 Lira in Phone Scam

Hasan Özkan, a retired bank employee living in Çekerek district of Yozgat Province, Turkey, was targeted by phone scammers who pretended to be officials from a public bank. The fraudsters claimed he had a saved claim with the bank and asked for his IBAN, after which they opened loans of 65,000 lira and 55,000 lira in his name, totaling 130,000 lira. The illegal credit resulted in monthly salary deductions that consumed almost his entire 28,000‑lira income, leaving him with an additional 2,000‑lira debt each month.

Özkan reported the crime to the police and filed complaints with CİMER and the bank’s headquarters. A criminal case was opened, suspects—including two Turkish nationals and a Syrian individual—were arrested, and the misappropriated funds were placed under a court escrow. The first court hearing was scheduled for 17 June 2025 but later postponed to 14 September 2025.