Turkey police disrupt major phone fraud rings targeting gold

Law enforcement agencies in Turkey have conducted several operations targeting organized phone fraud syndicates that impersonate police officers and prosecutors to steal gold and valuables.

In Afyonkarahisar, police identified three suspects involved in a scheme where victims were coerced into handing over approximately 2 million TL worth of jewelry after being falsely told they were linked to investigations. One suspect was arrested in Denizli with 500,000 TL worth of jewelry belonging to another victim.

In Yalova, a jeweler's quick thinking prevented an 81-year-old man from handing over approximately 1.5 to 2 million TL worth of gold to scammers posing as legal authorities. The jeweler noticed suspicious behavior and alerted the police, who intervened before the transaction could be completed.

A major investigation in Istanbul's Beşiktaş district led to the arrest of a gang member in Şanlıurfa. The group had defrauded an 83-year-old retiree of 1,758 Republic gold coins, valued at approximately 72 million TL, by claiming his assets needed to be secured for a criminal investigation.