Turkish MPs Flag Digital IBAN Fraud Targeting Youth

Deputy chairman of the CHP and Istanbul MP Dr. Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi presented a parliamentary proposal highlighting a wave of digital fraud in which organized crime groups lure young people, students and job seekers with promises of scholarships, extra income or remote work. Victims are induced to let scammers use their bank accounts or IBAN numbers for illicit transactions, often without realizing they have become part of a fraud chain.

İlgezdi warned that the victims, many of whom are from low‑income backgrounds, are subsequently prosecuted under Turkish Penal Code article 158/1‑f for "qualified fraud," facing prison terms of four to ten years, account blockades and heavy fines. She called the practice a “scapegoat” for the youth and urged stronger banking security filters, coordinated institutional action and public awareness campaigns to prevent further exploitation.

The proposal seeks to broaden legal and regulatory tools to protect citizens, improve inter‑agency cooperation and enhance financial‑literacy efforts to curb the growth of these schemes.