Turkish authorities uncover international scam network linked to Hells Angels

Turkish authorities have dismantled an international fraud network that scammed 46 German citizens, defrauding them of €2.8 million ($3.03 million).

The victims were contacted by phone, where scammers falsely claimed their names were linked to criminal organizations. This led the victims to transfer large amounts of money out of fear.

Following the fraud, German security forces reached out to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, initiating a joint investigation.

Multiple arrests in Türkiye

The investigation was led by the Istanbul Public Security Directorate’s Fraud Bureau, which carried out synchronized raids in Istanbul, Izmir, and Sakarya, resulting in the arrest of 10 suspects.

The individuals arrested are German-born Turkish nationals with ties to the Hells Angels, a well-known organized crime group based in Germany.

Among the detained was Ali Erdi A., who is wanted by Interpol for his involvement in the 2014 murder of Tahir Ozbek in Berlin. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Türkiye. Reports from Hurriyet indicate that Erdi A. played a key role in coordinating the scam.

How the scam worked

The scammers, who spoke German, targeted elderly and vulnerable people in Germany.

Posing as police officers and prosecutors, they used scare tactics, claiming that the victims’ names were found on a terrorism watchlist and that a police operation was set to take place at their homes. This intimidation led the victims to transfer money to the criminals.

Authorities confirmed that the fraudsters managed to steal a total of €2.85 million (approximately $3.03 million), with part of the funds transferred to bank accounts in Türkiye.

Uncovering international network

Investigations revealed that the fraudsters in Germany gathered personal information from victims, which was then shared with their counterparts in Türkiye. The stolen funds were subsequently funneled through bank accounts in Türkiye.

The 10 suspects — identified as Y.A., E.P., D.B.T., M.C., D.A., C.G., B.K., S.G., Z.B., and A.E.A.—have been taken into custody for questioning at the Istanbul Police Department. The investigation is ongoing, as authorities continue to work on dismantling the entire network.