Turkish security agencies announced on Friday that they have dismantled a fraudulent trading operation that they say was linked to Israel and responsible for defrauding individuals in multiple regions of the world. The investigation, disclosed by Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, focused on a network of call centres and companies that allegedly carried out foreign‑exchange scams over the past two years.
According to a statement posted by the minister on social media, the probe targeted 42 call‑centre locations operated by 28 separate corporate entities. The operation is accused of extracting at least $266 million from victims in Europe, the Far East and Africa through deceptive investment schemes.
Turkish officials indicated that the crackdown involved coordinated actions by law‑enforcement units, resulting in the seizure of equipment and the arrest of individuals connected to the network. While the exact number of suspects detained was not disclosed, the scale of the operation suggests a sizeable organized‑crime structure.
The Justice Ministry described the scheme as a “scam empire” that leveraged sophisticated marketing tactics and high‑pressure sales techniques to lure investors. Authorities said the fraudsters presented themselves as legitimate forex traders, promising unusually high returns and using multilingual call‑centre staff to reach a broad audience.
Middle East Eye, which first reported the development, noted that the investigation underscores growing concerns over cross‑border financial crimes that exploit digital platforms and international communication channels. The agency highlighted that the alleged involvement of Israeli actors adds a diplomatic dimension to the case, though no official comment from Israeli authorities has been recorded.
Turkish officials emphasized that the operation violated national and international financial regulations, and they pledged to pursue further legal action against all parties implicated. The Justice Ministry also warned the public to remain vigilant against similar schemes and to report suspicious investment offers to the authorities.
The case remains under investigation, with prosecutors expected to file charges in the coming weeks. The outcome may have implications for bilateral cooperation on financial crime prevention between Turkey, Israel and other affected jurisdictions.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/turkey-busts-israel-linked-scam-empire-behind-alleged-266m-fraud.