Turkey Ministry of Trade fines companies for fake restaurant branches

The Turkish Ministry of Trade has imposed administrative fines and ordered the cessation of commercial practices against two companies for deceiving consumers on food delivery platforms. Investigations by the Advertising Board revealed that these businesses, which actually operated only a single restaurant, created the illusion of multiple independent establishments by using different business names, addresses, and fake consumer reviews.

The Ministry stated that these deceptive tactics were designed to create a false perception of variety among consumers. In addition to these specific cases, the Ministry emphasized that digital audits are being expanded across websites, social media, and mobile applications. These inspections target various forms of manipulation, including inaccurate pricing, fake discounts, covert advertising, influencer promotions, and manipulated consumer comments.