"Fleece & Release": Retiree Seeking Electric Vehicle for MS-sufferer Wife, Duped by Internet Gang, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 21 March 2025)

                   "Hey boss, what do we do now??!!"

Retiree Bekir E. (58), living in Adana's Sarıçam district, wanted

to buy a three-wheel electric vehicle for his wife who suffers 

from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), so he searched the internet and

called a number he found. He then sent 30,000 TL (about $790)

to the bank account of the "seller". 

However, the "seller" told Bekir E. that the money he'd sent 

had not arrived so he asked him to send it again ...and again (!).

In total, Bekir E. sent the "seller" nearly 100,000 TL (about

$2,630).  Subsequently, when the "seller" did not answer Bekir 

E.'s phone calls he realized he had been badly duped. 

Upon Bekir E.'s complaint to police, the cyber crimes unit got

busy and determined that the culprit was S.Y., the leader of a 

gang dealing in phony internet advertisements.  It turned out

that gang member B.T. (30) had spoken with Bekir E. and that 

other gang members A.Ç. (20) and S.B. (30)  had been involved

in the money transfers.

In simultaneous raids in Adana, Mersin and Osmaniye the four

suspects were taken into custody and jailed.