Types of Fraud Most Commonly Reported by Foreign Nationals in Turkey

Most fraud cases involving foreign nationals fall into a handful of categories. The legal elements are the same across all of them — deceptive act, benefit to the perpetrator, loss to the victim — but the specific conduct, the evidence you need to document, and the urgency of your response differ depending on the type.

Real estate fraud is the most frequent. It includes selling a property that carries an undisclosed mortgage or court seizure, transferring title using a forged or unauthorized power of attorney, selling the same property to multiple buyers before the registrations catch up, and misrepresenting the property’s planning status or construction permits. The land registry records what is legally registered — not what the seller told you. A title search before any transfer is the only reliable check.

Investment fraud tends to follow a staged pattern. Initial credibility is built through documentation, small early returns, or references to legitimate-looking projects. Once the victim has transferred a significant sum, the perpetrator becomes unreachable. The fraud under TCK Article 157 is complete from the moment the false representations were made — not when the money disappears. This matters because it establishes when the limitation period starts and how the complaint should be framed.

Contractor fraud is common in residential construction and renovation projects. A contractor accepts a large advance, begins visible work to establish trust, then abandons the project. The distinction that matters legally: a contractor who tried and failed is a civil matter. A contractor who accepted payment with no intention of delivering is committing fraud. Demonstrating that intent requires evidence of the contractor’s conduct pattern, not just the outcome.

Commercial and partnership fraud affects foreign investors who enter company or supply agreements. This covers falsifying financial statements during due diligence, misrepresenting assets before a share transfer, and moving company assets to related parties once a dispute becomes foreseeable. In these cases, the window to protect your position is narrow — once assets are gone, a civil judgment may be unenforceable.

Fake intermediary fraud — fake residency consultants, fake citizenship brokers, fake real estate agents — is underreported because victims feel embarrassed. A person who collected fees in exchange for services they had no ability or intention to provide is committing fraud. You do not need certainty before filing a complaint. The prosecutor evaluates the evidence.

Cryptocurrency and online investment fraud has increased significantly among foreign nationals in Turkey. The typical pattern involves contact through social media or messaging apps — the perpetrator presents themselves as an investment advisor, fund manager, or crypto trading expert, builds trust over several weeks, and then directs the victim to a platform or wallet that appears legitimate but is controlled by the fraudster. Once a significant sum is transferred, withdrawals are blocked, additional fees are demanded to “release” funds, and the perpetrator eventually cuts contact. These schemes frequently fall under TCK Article 158 — aggravated fraud — because they are carried out through information systems and banking channels, which is one of the qualifying circumstances that raises the minimum sentence to three years. If you have been defrauded through a cryptocurrency platform or online investment scheme in Turkey, see our detailed guide on crypto crimes under Turkish law.

What Happens After You File a Fraud Complaint in Turkey

Filing the complaint is the start of the process, not the resolution. Understanding what follows helps you stay engaged at the moments that actually determine the outcome.

Your complaint goes to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office (Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı). The prosecutor opens a pre-investigation file and reviews whether the conduct described qualifies as criminal fraud or a civil dispute. This review can take weeks to a few months. During this phase, the prosecutor may ask you for additional documents or a formal statement.

If the prosecutor finds sufficient basis, a formal investigation (soruşturma) opens. The suspect can be summoned, searched, or — where there is a flight risk or evidence destruction risk — detained. You are not automatically kept updated on these steps unless you have formally joined the case as a participating complainant (katılan). This requires filing a petition through a lawyer. It gives you access to the file and the ability to submit evidence and objections directly into the record.

If the investigation produces enough evidence, an indictment is prepared and the case moves to the criminal court. Fraud cases typically take one to three years from indictment to final judgment. If the prosecutor issues a non-prosecution decision (kovuşturmaya yer olmadığına dair karar), you have 15 days to file an objection with the Criminal Court of Peace (Sulh Ceza Hakimliği). This deadline is hard — missing it closes the criminal option.

Throughout the criminal process, the civil track runs in parallel. The civil claim is the mechanism for recovering money. The criminal case establishes liability and applies pressure on the perpetrator — but a prison sentence does not automatically return funds to the victim.

Filing a Fraud Complaint From Outside Turkey

You do not need to be in Turkey to file a fraud complaint or pursue civil proceedings. This applies to foreign nationals who have left Turkey after being defrauded, investors who were defrauded remotely, and anyone who discovers the fraud after returning home.

A complaint can be submitted to the relevant Turkish Consulate or Embassy in your country, which forwards it to the appropriate prosecutor’s office in Turkey. Alternatively, a lawyer holding a power of attorney can file and manage all proceedings on your behalf without you being physically present at any stage.

The power of attorney (vekaletname) authorizing a Turkish lawyer to act on your behalf can be executed at a Turkish Consulate in your country, or notarized locally and apostilled. Your lawyer then handles the complaint filing, evidence submission, court appearances, and all procedural steps remotely.

The precautionary attachment application — freezing the perpetrator’s assets — can also be filed and obtained through your lawyer without your physical presence. Given that asset movement typically accelerates once a perpetrator suspects a complaint is coming, the ability to act quickly from abroad matters.

For cases involving real estate transactions or professional intermediaries, see our detailed guide on aggravated fraud in Turkey. If you have already been defrauded and are looking for immediate next steps, see what to do if you’ve been scammed in Turkey.