"Beat & Release": Infamous Turkish Hacker Wanted by FBI, Caught by Police in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Milliyet Newspaper, 16 May 2024)

                 "ChaO" explained: "Beats working."

This man was at the top of fraud incidents at the international level.  He

invented a device in Turkey and sold it in places like England, France

and America, reaping millions of dollars.  The FBI named this man, 

Çağatay Evyapan, who used the codename "ChaO", as one of the four 

most dangerous hackers in the world.  He's been caught by the 

Istanbul police.  How did this happen?

Evyapan's device enabled criminals to steal money from ATMs - it is

implanted at the card-entrance port on an ATM and copies all the card's

information. Another element of the device on the keypad garners the

card's cipher when the owner punches it in.  Rather than sending the 

stolen money directly to the criminal's account, which would easily

identify him, the money is routed through internet foreign currency

domains.  

Evyapan first surfaced in 1993 for the first credit card theft in Turkey.  

Victims complained that their bank accounts were emptied, leading 

police to Evyapan, who was arrested in 1998 but he successfully 

escaped from prison in 2000 (!).  He was sought by the FBI and Interpol 

up until 2008.  Finally, the Istanbul police nabbed Evyapan and found 

information relating to nearly 10,000 banking cards in his home. 

So how was it that the Istanbul police found Evyapan when the FBI 

couldn't?  Evyapan had a website called "DarkMarket" and to enter this

website one needed the references of three people.  The FBI tried for four

years to penetrate the website and ultimately an FBI got in.  One thing

led to another and one of the gang's members "Jilsi" was caught in 

England.  The trail then led to another gang member, "Kier", and this

arrest resulted in a photograph of Evyapan/"ChaO" being obtained.    

Istanbul police identified "ChaO" as Evyapan, trailed him and his

friends and arrested him.  Evyapan was astonished that the police had

been able to link "ChaO" to himself and he tried mightily to figure out 

the mistake he'd made that got him caught.  In any case, the FBI chief

came to Turkey and thanked the Istanbul police for capturing the

infamous hacker "ChaO", who is now in prison. 

"ChaO" in happier days...

 

"Beat & Release": Israeli Gold Smugglers and American "Spider"-man Nabbed at Istanbul Airport

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 May 2024)

A stroller worth its weight in gold...and then some.

Police at Istanbul Airport tailed two people coming from Dubai and found

73 gold ingots worth 178 million TL (about $5.5 million) secreted in a 

baby stroller (!).   Each ingot weighed one kilogram. 

And yesterday the airport police force nabbed American Professor Lorenzo

Prendini for trying to smuggle scorpions and tarantulas out of Turkey (!).

On 21 April, an Israeli couple coming to Istanbul from Dubai, M.Q. and 

A.K., were stopped and their belongings were x-rayed.  The gold ingots

were found in the bottom of the couple's baby stroller.   Both individuals

were taken into custody and after processing M.Q. was jailed and A.K.

was released. 

In the other incident at Istanbul Airport, police found 1,500 scorpions,

tarantulas and spiders in 58 plastic bags, and another 88 plastic bags

with liquids (!) in the baggage of American Professor Lorenzo Prendini,

who works at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

After processing at the Gaziosmanpaşa courthouse, Prendini was 

released on judicial supervision. 

Scholarly Spiderman

"Beat & Release": Shepherd Spots Flying "Man in Black" Form, in Muş

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sputnik website, 27 April 2024)

Experts think it was Tommy Lee Jones - "Men in Black"

sequel is currently being filmed near Muş.

While shepherd Murat Koç was grazing his sheep in Küçüktepe village 

of Muş province's Varto district, he saw the figure of a human being (!)

suddenly appear in the sky above him.  Koç said that "it was a black

thing resembling the form of a person.  I took the video so that others

could see and know about it.  I was able to see the thing for about a 

minute.  I want this to be investigated."

Continuing, Koç related that "it was about 5 o'clock in the evening in

the pasture where I was grazing my sheep and I noticed this object 

in the shape of a person that suddenly appeared.  I was startled by it

and took the video so that others would know about it."

"Beat & Release": Bitcoins Illegally Mined in Abandoned Sock Factory, in Çorum

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(HaberTürk website, 9 May 2024)

There were 17 - one got lost in the dryer.

In an operation targeted at an abandoned sock factory (!) in Alaca district 

of Çorum province, a suspect doing Bitcoin mining was taken into custody

and 16 devices used for the mining and valued at 5 million TL (about 

$155,000) were seized. 

Suspect S.A. (29) was using unregistered devices smuggled into Turkey

for Bitcoin mining in the abandoned sock factory in Alaca's Özhan 

neighborhood.  Police conducted technical and physical surveillance of 

S.A.'s activities before raiding the premises.  In addition to seizing the 

16 devices, police discovered that S.A. had hooked up electricity to the 

building illegally, too.  

Modern recycling: socks repurposed as Bitcoins...

"Cheat & Release": Driver's License Candidates Bugged to Steal Test Info, in Aksaray

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Yeni Şafak website, 9 May 2024)

Lots of drivers in Turkey seem to have gotten their licenses 

this way...or on sale at Migros.

The Gendarmerie operation was targeted at a test center in Aksaray's Eskil
district.  Two individuals had a candidate for a driver's licenses wear 

specially-designed clothes with electronic systems during the tests.

Firstly, the suspects were identified by the Gendarmerie as R.A. and Ş.E.,

both of whom live in Eskil. They were subjected to physical and 

electronic surveillance for a month.   The suspects had driver's license 

candidate M.E. wear the special clothes into the test center while they 

waited nearby in a vehicle.  Their aim was to obtain information about 

the test to sell to other candidates.  

M.E. was caught wearing a sweater with a hidden camera in the chest

portion of the sweater and a device within the garment to send voice 

signals.  In addition, M.E.'s underwear contained a device for transmitting

visual signals, along with a wi-fi set with an earpiece.

In a search of the vehicle in which R.A. and Ş.E. were sitting, three mobile

wi-fi sets, three cellphones, nine secret mini-cameras, eight mini-earpieces,

23 mini lithium batteries, four voice transmission devices and two other

cameras, three electronically outfitted sweaters for test-takers to wear and

other related paraphernalia was discovered.  

M.E., the test-taking candidate, and R.A. and Ş.E. were taken to the

Gendarmerie command.  The investigation is continuing. 

"Betroth & Release": Donkeys "Married" to Highlight 2030 Extinction Threat, in Antalya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 6 May 2024)

                  And they lived happily ever after...

A symbolic "wedding" was held in Ortaköy village of Antalya's Kumluca

district to call attention to the danger that donkeys will be extinct by the

year 2030 (!).  

Gold, horseshoes, beads and other items were strewn over the beasts as

they were "betrothed" by a wedding official and in the presence of 

witnesses and the villagers.   After the ceremony, village chief  Halime

Kay had the happy couple munch on lettuce, cucumbers, carrots and 

grass.  Next, the newlyweds were loaded onto a tractor and sent off to

their honeymoon.  A citizen who blocked the tractor's progress was 

given an envelope full of money as the "bride price".

"Beat & Release": Bungolows and Pools "Stolen", in Çatalca

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 5 May 2024)

                            "Where's the rest of me??!!"

In Çatalca, the structures and pools (!) of five bungalows have been 

stolen.  The claim is that a dispute between the bungalow builder and 

a neighbor of  the bungalow owners prompted the theft.  The remnants 

of the homes and pools can be seen above. 

The incident occurred in Çatalca's Akalan village.  The bungalows were

being used by their owners as weekend retreats.  An individual named

Yahya Kemal Yaman, a neighbor of the five bungalow owners, got into 

an argument with the bungalows' builder about money owed to Yaman. 

To settle scores Yaman (somehow) "stole" the bungalows and the pools

one night.  When the owners arrived they were shocked, as might be

expected.  

The Gendarmerie was called in and an investigation is underway.

Once upon a time there was a bungalow...and a pool...

"Crash & (No) Release": Drug Addict Drove Tractor-Trailer on Deadly Rampage, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 30 April 2024)

Killer and murder weapon.  TIR's "Maşallah" feature, 

meant to ward off the evil eye, was evidently out of order.

On 20 October 2023 in Istanbul's Sancaktepe district, Sezgin Açık (23),

hooked on drugs, boarded a TIR (tractor-trailer) at his father's company

in Paşaköy.  He phoned his parents and asked them to come get him. 

However, when the father, İbrahim Halil Açık, arrived and tried to apply

the emergency brake his son resisted aggressively, speeding away and

hitting his parent's car in the process. 

İbrahim bey alerted the police and six of them, including Lütfü Baykar

(53) of the Maltepe police group, tried to stop the rampaging TIR driven

by Sezgin Açık.  The police were hit by the TIR, resulting in Baykar's

death and injuries sustained by other policemen.  As Sezgin Açık 

continued his TIR rampage, other policemen shot out the tires but to

no avail, as the TIR hit four more cars and a taxi.  Finally, after hitting

three more cars in Ataşehir, Sezgin Açık's terror drive ended and he

was jailed.  

The public prosecutor has asked for a sentence of from 17 to 39.5 years

for Sezgin Açık. 

"Crash & Release": Sea Taxi Hits Canoe, Propeller Nearly Severs Canoe Rider's Foot, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 29 April 2024) 

       An idyllic scene.  What could possibly go wrong?

In the waters of the Sea of Marmara off Kalamış in Istanbul the day 

before yesterday, a sea taxi hit a canoe and the two women in it fell

into the water.  The sea taxi's propeller nearly severed the left foot of

Neşe Yılmaz (50).  A sailboat nearby rescued the two women from the

sea, after which DAK-SAR (water rescue) teams arrived. 

Neşe hanım had swallowed sea water so she was put in intensive care

and a tube inserted in her throat to allow her to breathe.  Meanwhile, 

her dangling foot was stitched in place (!).  Neşe hanım remains in 

intensive care. 

The other woman who fell into the water from the canoe was Iranian

Rozita Einisarghin, who was taken to Göztepe Training and Research

Hospital, where her treatment in the brain surgery ward continues. 

Rozita hanım's condition is said to be good. 

The captain of the sea taxi, Ahmek Özkan, was taken into police 

custody. 

"Beat & Release": Pakistani Bought Turkish Citizenship for $400K - Now He's in a Turkish Jail

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 28 April 2024)

                                   "Citizen"'s arrest.

As Pakistani Faisal Abdullah was driving along in Istanbul's Bahçelievler

district he secretly took a video of a woman dancing in her home and 

posted the video on social media.   Many people reacted negatively to the

posting and one wrote "you'll go back to your own country!".  In response,

Abdullah haughtily said "Who are you to talk to me in such a way?!  I

made a $400,000 investment in Turkey and got Turkish citizenship! Go

to hell!"  

However (!), police began an investigation and quickly determined 

Abdullah's address in the Esenyurt section of the city, where he was

taken into custody for "invading personal privacy and acquiring personal

information inappropriately."  Abdullah was ordered jailed by the 

Bakırköy court.  

You're not in Karachi anymore Abdullah...

"Beat & Release": Bully's Father Attacks Teacher After She Warned the Bully, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 April 2024)

              Like father, like son...and vice versa.

N.Ö., a female teacher at Prof. Dr. Ali Kemal Yiğitoğlu Middle School

in Sarıyer district of Istanbul, admonished a student for bullying a

classmate.  The bully threatened N.Ö., saying "you're going to learn

how to behave toward me!" and summoned his father A.Ç. to the 

school.  A.Ç. arrived and attacked N.Ö. with punches and kicks,

resulting in N.Ö. being taken to a hospital for treatment. (!) 

Messages of support for N.Ö. posted on social media included ones

from the National Education Minister and the Ministry's Istanbul

provincial office.  Istanbul police issued the following statement

in connection with the attack: "Fugitive suspect A.Ç. was arrested

soon after the incident, charged in the attack, and jailed."

"Shave & Release": Bald Man Demanded Discount from Barber, Shot Up the Shop, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 25 April 2024)

    "Half the work, half the price!"

In Istanbul's Beyoğlu district on 5 April, Mustafa D. went to a barber 

shop to get a haircut and a shave.  Upon completion, Mustafa D. asked

barber Hikmet Zengin how much he owed him.  When Zengin replied

"150 TL" (about $4.60) Mustafa D. objected and asked for a discount.

Zengin complied and lowered the charge to 120 TL.  Still unsatisfied,

Mustafa D. gave Zengin 100 TL. (!)

A vociferous argument ensued and Mustafa D. left the shop in a huff.

However (!), a while later Mustafa D. returned with a gun and rained

down bullets on the barbershop.  No one was killed or injured though.

Mustafa D. was arrested and jailed. 

Seniors get discounts, why not baldies!?

"Neck & Release": Teenagers Necking on Park Bench Spark Local Resident's Ire, in Konya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 24 April 2024)

A.A. protested, saying "there was no 'no necking' sign!!

In Konya's Selçuklu district at about two-thirty in the afternoon on 4 

April, high school student A.A. (17) and his girlfriend A.G. (17) were

sitting on a park bench when Ahmet Aydın (61) approached them and

shouted "you've soiled this neighborhood's honor!".  Aydın then 

attacked A.A. with a hedge-clipper, wounding him in his chest. A.A.

stayed in a hospital's intensive care unit for two days before being

released. 

A.A.'s family filed a complaint with police and Aydın was taken into

custody.  In his statement Aydın "explained" that "they were behaving 

inappropriately so I warned them and the boy cursed at me.  I don't

know how he was wounded (!).  I don't even know the fellow.  I only

acted to warn them."  Nevertheless, Aydın was jailed. 

As for A.A., he said that "a stranger came from behind and said 'you've

soiled this neighborhood's honor!".  He cursed at us and attacked me

two or three times with a hedge-clipper.  My psychology is in tatters."

Adding insult to injury, after the incident A.A. and A.G. broke up. (!)

Subsequently, city officials posted "Neck at Your Own Risk" 

signs in parks.

"Stab & Flee": Kazakh Woman Kills Hospitable Host in Istanbul and Absconds to Moscow

türkçe  links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 23 April 2024) 

another absconding click here for the story of a woman who

spirited her son out of Turkey to America after he killed a 

young man in a vehicle collision.  They're not expected back

anytime soon...

                       No good deed goes unpunished.

Kazakhstan citizen Nurali Tamarov purchased goods to sell abroad from

İrfan Kapsızlar (56), who works in the leather and furs sector.  When she

found herself without a place to stay in Istanbul Kapsızlar took her in as

a guest in his home in the Küçükçekmece district of the city.  Although 

he is the father of three children, Kapsızlar was living alone.

Tamarov, who stayed in Kapsızlar's flat for about 10 days, came to his flat 

on the night of 16 April and attacked him with a knife, leaving him in a 

pool of blood.  She then packed her suitcase, went to the airport and flew

to Moscow, from where she phoned a friend in Istanbul and confessed to

killing Kapsızlar. 

Tamarov's friend informed Kapsızlar's relatives of the situation and the

police entered the flat with the aid of a locksmith, finding Kapsızlar's 

body.  A friend of his family, Erdinç Gündoğdu said that "he was killed

in a monstrous way, with stab wounds in his chest and arms.  His face

was unrecognizable.  We want the killer brought back to Turkey to face

justice."

Police say Tamarov looks sort of like this woman, wearing

Kapsızlar-brand furs.

"Spray & Release": Turkey's Perfume (!) Black Market Still Flourishing With Brand Name Knock-offs

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 22 April 2024)

turks' perfume obsession click here for previous TNT reporting

on this fascinating subject.

            The best-smelling police officer on the force. 

Within the scope of an investigation launched by the Gaziosmanpaşa,

Istanbul, public prosecutor, a raid was made on a warehouse where

thousands of bottles of fake perfume (!) in luxury-brand bottles were

seized and two suspects were taken into custody. 

In the raid 64,000 bottles of fake perfume, worth 30 million TL 

(about $925,000), along with 104,250 brand labels and 39,370

empty bottles were seized.  The fake perfume was sold both abroad

and in Turkey.  Police processing of the two suspects involved is

continuing. 

Know your perfume! Hard to imagine Turks need so much

perfume, real or fake, but in any event...

"Click & Release": Deviant, Albeit Wheelchair-bound, Plants Secret Camera in Women's Bathroom, in Bandırma

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 22 April 2024)

Handicapped?! Who's handicapped??!!

Workers cleaning the women's bathroom at the Bandırma Training and 

Research Hospital in Balıkesir province found a bag containing a secret

camera.  Police were called and after reviewing security camera footage

they saw that  wheelchair-bound (!) Tarık Özkan (40) had entered the 

women's bathroom. 

A search of Özkan's home yielded images from the secret camera on his

computer.  Özkan confessed and told police he's been taking such pictures

for 3-4 years (!).  At one time he was caught taking pictures of women on

the mass transit system and in other public places. After processing Özkan

was jailed.  

Is no place sacred!?

 

"Ink & (No) Release": Police "Go Ballistic" and Nab 6 Tattoo'ed Muggers, in Diyarbakır

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 21 April 2024)

 As you may/may not have wanted, your tattoos got noticed.

Diyarbakır police investigated muggings in the Bağlar, Kayapınar, Sur

and Yenişehir neighborhoods of the city and had the victims view 

images from KGYS (City Security Assurance System) cameras.  One

of the perpetrators had a tattoo of a skull on his arm and this led police

to scan photo archives of arrestees with tattoos. 

As a result, the addresses of criminals H.O., A.A., A.G., R.Ç., Ş.O. and

M.Y., all of whom have skull tattoos on their arms, were isolated and the

police launched a coordinated raid - "Operation Balistik" (!) - on all the 

addresses.  The six suspects were taken into custody, charged in the 

muggings and jailed. 

"Fake & Release": Teacher Poses as Gendarmerie Soldier and Checks ID's, in Karadeniz Ereğli

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Gazete duvaR  website, 19 April 2024)

       Her real reason: "Guys love a woman in uniform". 

In Zonguldak province's Ereğli district a woman named M.K. (24),

dressed in the uniform of a Gendarmerie soldier (!), entered a business 

area on Müftü Mahallesi Meydanbaşı Avenue and began checking

the ID's of shop owners. M.K. then proceeded to Uzunkum Avenue

and began checking the ID's of young people at cafés there, saying

she was conducting a  "GBT" (genel bilgi toplama/general ID check). 

However (!), someone became suspicious of M.K.'s behavior and 

called the police, who came and demanded to see M.K.'s military ID.

When she couldn't produce the ID police interrogated her and found

out that she is, in fact, a part-time teacher. (!)

M.K. was taken into custody after which she "explained" to police that

"I always wanted to be a soldier so that's why I did this. But now I 

regret having done it."  After processing at the police station, M.K.

was released. 

"Beat & Release": Taxi Driver Rescues Stabbing Victim at 3 in the Morning, in Kadıköy

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 19 April 2024) 

   3 o'clock in the morning - I'd turn back if I were you.

In Kadıköy, Istanbul, yesterday at about 3 o'clock in the morning, Ali 

Rıza Ocak, suffering from 8 stab wounds, was rescued by a passing 

taxi driver and brought to a hospital.  Ocak had been walking in the

Osmanağa neighborhood when unknown individuals attacked and 

stabbed him eight times. 

Taxi driver Ferit Karadağ happened to be passing by and noticed Ocak

struggling to walk so he put him in his taxi and brought him to a nearby

hospital, where Ocak was operated on.  

Karadağ explained that "I was on my way to Moda and I saw this 

fellow trying to get a ride, but without success.  He then appealed to

me and, seeing that he was bleeding heavily, I took him to a hospital.

Along the way I kept talking to him to keep him from passing out."

Karadağ then returned to the place where he picked up Ocak in order

to help the police, who had arrived on the scene.  Karadağ learned that

Ocak's condition was critical. 

Hero Karadağ on duty...

"Beat & Release": Migrants Working Illegally in Turkey Raise Profiles and Get PNG'd

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 April 2024) 

For M.A., an exception to the rule "there's no such thing

as bad publicity." 

Kardelen Bark (26), a reporter for the DHA news agency, went  from 

Fethiye to visit her family in Adana during the recent Ramazan holiday.  

However (!) while on the Metro Turizm bus en route to Adana Kardelen 

hanım was sexually harassed by bus attendant M.A. (16), a foreigner.

Unfortunately for M.A., Kardelen hanım recorded his unwanted advances

and forwarded the video to her boyfriend N.D. who complained to Metro

Turizm.  Another bus attendant, E.Ö., then approached Kardelen hanım

and in Antalya, where the bus made a rest stop, she complained to police,

who apprehended M.A. and expelled him from Turkey. 

Metro Turizm denied employing foreigners like M.A. but the firm must 

now respond to Kardelen hanım's lawsuit.  

****************************************************

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 April 2024)

                 "Other duties as assigned" (NOT!) 

In Istanbul's Beyoğlu district, the sight of restaurant chef Yusuf J.

serving diners wearing a (Turkish) soldier's uniform (!) created a 

furious reaction on social media, with one person commenting: "how 

dare someone don a (Turkish) soldier's uniform to serve diners at a 

luxury restaurant in Istanbul owned by a foreigner!" 

Prompted by the storm on social media, the public prosecutor began

an investigation and took restaurant owner A.K., manager A.G.

and chef Yusuf J. into custody.  In addition, illegal migrants M.I.,

A.R. and H.M.Y.A., who were found to be working at the restaurant, 

were nabbed and measures initiated for their expulsion from Turkey.

The restaurant's license to operate was voided, as well. 

"Beat & Release": Innocent Victim of a Bizarre Chain of Events, in Mersin

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 17 April 2024) 

      The Angel of Death works in very mysterious ways. 

On the evening of 6 April in Mersin, after finishing a transport job Ahmet

Karatepe (28) learned that his grandmother Fatma Karatepe in Adana had

spilled boiling water on her leg so he hopped on his motorcycle to go see

her.

However (!), as Karatepe approached Fatma hanım's home in Adana's

Seyhan district he passed a taxi stand on Akif Ersoy Avenue and was hit

in his back by a bullet fired by two individuals on motorcycles.  As 

Karatepe fell to the ground, the two shooters rained down bullets on

the taxi stand and fled. 

Karatepe passed away at a nearby hospital.  As for the attackers, police

determined their identities as İbrahim Efe K. and Aydın T.  It turned out

that earlier that same day at around noon a car had hit the two motorcycles,

prompting İbrahim Efe K. and Aydın T. to beat the car's driver.  The

nearby (and chivalrous) taxi drivers objected to the two beating a man

in front of his wife and pummeled them. 

For revenge, İbrahim Efe K. and Aydın T. executed the armed attack on

the taxi stand but hit the passing Karatepe by accident.  His father Erdal

Karatepe lamented that "if the bullets hadn't hit my son they would have

hit someone else.  He was a fine fellow and everyone liked him very 

much.  We hoped to have him get married and have been preparing a 

dowry for his prospective bride but instead, I'm putting him in a grave

at a young age.  I want the suspects to be caught as soon as possible."