Turkey: Lawyers warn of vehicle deposit scams

Lawyers are warning citizens about a sophisticated fraud method targeting second-hand vehicle owners through online advertisements. According to lawyer Mehmet Mert Sezgen, scammers build trust by impersonating professionals such as doctors, lawyers, businesspeople, or public officials.

These individuals often claim to be in a different city to avoid face-to-face meetings. They may use the real names and professions of actual people to pass online verification checks. To further the deception, scammers frequently impersonate notary employees, using real notary names and addresses to make the process appear official.

Victims are often pressured into making quick decisions using excuses like busy notary schedules or claims that a buyer has already sent a deposit. The scammers typically demand money under the guise of a ‘secure deposit,’ ‘guarantee,’ or ‘blockage’ to finalize the sale.