# Gold-related fraud incidents in Turkey

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/gold-related-fraud-incidents-in-turkey
> Updated: 2026-10-26T08:38:00.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 3.

Reports from Turkey indicate various fraudulent schemes targeting gold transactions and jewelry owners.

In Kocaeli, a suspect in the Çayırova district used a counterfeit quarter gold coin to distract a jeweler before stealing a bracelet. Security footage aided the investigation, leading to the suspect's apprehension and the recovery of the stolen item. Savaş Kılıç, President of the Gebze Jewelers Association, noted an increase in counterfeit gold and advised the public to use technical verification methods, such as acid testing, touchstones, and specialized machines. He also warned against transactions offered outside of standard business hours.

In Konya, a telephone fraud attempt in the Karapınar district was thwarted when a local jeweler, Önder Orman, and a plainclothes police officer intervened. Scammers used identity theft claims and family details to pressure 78-year-old Necati Akyıldız into selling approximately 200,000 lira worth of gold to facilitate a fraudulent fund transfer via IBAN. The gold was returned safely to the victim.

In Sakarya, two suspects were detained in the Sapanca district after attempting to sell imitation gold jewelry to multiple shops. The scheme was uncovered by local jeweler and Greco-Roman wrestling champion Hüseyin Memioğlu. After suspects sold a fake necklace at Memioğlu’s shop and moved on to other businesses, a fellow jeweler sought Memioğlu’s expertise to verify the authenticity of a suspicious item. Following confirmation that the jewelry was fake, police intercepted and detained the suspects while they were attempting to exchange more counterfeit goods.

## Claims

- Scammers contacted 78-year-old Necati Akyıldız via telephone, claiming his identity had been lost. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The perpetrators claimed an invoice had been issued in Akyıldız's name to a tradesman. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The scammers instructed Akyıldız to sell his gold and transfer the proceeds via IBAN. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Akyıldız attempted to sell approximately 200,000 lira worth of gold at a jeweler. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Jeweler Önder Orman intervened after noticing Akyıldız's suspicious behavior on the phone. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- A plainclothes police officer present at the shop helped prevent the fraud. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Two suspects attempted to sell fake gold necklaces in Sapanca. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Hüseyin Memioğlu is a veteran Greco-Roman wrestling world champion. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The suspects sold a fake necklace at Memioğlu’s jewelry shop. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- A second jeweler brought a suspicious necklace to Memioğlu for analysis. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Memioğlu's staff had previously purchased an identical fake necklace. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Police detained the two suspects after a report was filed. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-26: Sapanca jeweler and wrestling champion expose fake gold scam

Two suspects were arrested in Sakarya, Turkey, after a world champion wrestler and jeweler identified and reported a fake gold necklace scam.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sapanca-jeweler-and-wrestling-champion-expose-fake-gold-scam

### 2026-10-18: Jeweler prevents 200,000 lira gold scam in Konya

A jeweler and a plainclothes officer in Konya, Turkey, prevented a phone scammer from stealing 200,000 lira worth of gold from a 78-year-old man.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jeweler-prevents-200000-lira-gold-scam-in-konya

### 2026-10-11: Çayırova jeweler robbed using counterfeit gold

A thief in Çayırova, Turkey, used counterfeit gold to distract a jeweler and steal a bracelet. The suspect was caught, and officials warned of a rise in counterfeit gold scams.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ayrova-jeweler-robbed-using-counterfeit-gold

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Cite as: Gold-related fraud incidents in Turkey. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/gold-related-fraud-incidents-in-turkey