# Misleading advertisements targeting Turkish Central Bank

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/misleading-advertisements-targeting-turkish-central-bank
> Updated: 2026-08-20T22:01:13.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

An organized fraudulent advertising campaign has been targeting high-traffic Turkish news platforms by spreading false claims regarding Fatih Karahan, the Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye. The misinformation uses deceptive headlines, such as claims that Karahan has been “dismissed” or has “resigned,” to lure users into clicking.

Technical analysis indicates that these automated advertisements are distributed via third-party digital advertising networks rather than the direct infrastructure of the news websites themselves. Once clicked, users are redirected from legitimate news portals to fraudulent financial or investment websites operated by cybercriminals. Perpetrators have reportedly used encrypted parameters and new domain names to bypass blocks.

The Turkish Internet Media Union (TİMBİR) has characterized these deceptive practices as “perception operations” that undermine digital trust and pose economic risks. Official records confirm that Karahan remains in his position.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-20: Fatih Karahan: Misleading ads use Central Bank Governor's name

Fraudulent digital advertisements using Central Bank of Turkey Governor Fatih Karahan's name to claim he was dismissed are misleading users toward fake investment sites.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fatih-karahan-misleading-ads-use-central-bank-governors-name

### 2026-08-17: Fatih Karahan dismissal claims spread via fake ads

A fraudulent advertising campaign is using fake news ads on major Turkish websites to falsely claim that Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan has been dismissed from his post.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fatih-karahan-dismissal-claims-spread-via-fake-ads

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Cite as: Misleading advertisements targeting Turkish Central Bank. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/misleading-advertisements-targeting-turkish-central-bank
