Turkish businesspeople scammed in Dubai with Emirati official reportedly involved in scheme

Turkish businesspeople have fallen victim to a sophisticated fraud scheme centered in Dubai, where they were lured under the pretext of securing lucrative contracts.

The scam came to light when entrepreneur Mehmet Firat realized he had been deceived, leading to the exposure of a broader network that has reportedly swindled multiple individuals.

Rising investments and fraudulent schemes

In recent years, Turkish businesspeople have been increasingly investing in countries such as Egypt, Bulgaria, the UAE and Qatar.

This trend has not gone unnoticed, as criminal gangs have teamed up with individuals abroad to promise investments, only to ensnare entrepreneurs in elaborate scams.

Millions lost in Dubai fraud

According to journalist Kardelen Ince from TV100, Mehmet Firat, a businessman operating in the construction sector, was deceived during what was described as a “Dubai setup,” which began in February 2023 with promises of palace construction and pot manufacturing.

Following Firat’s realization of the scam, it was reported that the same individuals had also targeted numerous Turkish businesspeople, resulting in frauds amounting to millions of dollars.

Deceptive promises of construction contracts

Firat was introduced to suspicious individuals – identified only by their initials – M.S.S. and N.B. through a Turkish architect, B.B.A. In March 2023, he was invited to Dubai to oversee the construction of buildings and glass houses.

During their initial meeting, Firat was informed about a council building in the UAE and an angel investor associated with it. M.S.S. promised to purchase 1,500 pots and claimed he would collaborate with Firat on numerous projects over the next decade.

Key Player: President of a local chamber of commerce in Emirates

During this visit, the fraudsters took Firat to the farm of an allegedly Emirati citizen with the initials M.A.A.M., who they claimed was the president of the Chamber of Commerce in one of the UAE cities.

This visit aimed to build trust and further entice Firat into establishing a company, with promises of two office rentals.

Web of lies and financial exploitation

The suspects convinced Firat to set up a company in Dubai, assuring him of smooth procedures and offering consultancy services for a fee of $100,000.

Firat handed over $42,000 in cash to architect B.B.A. and sent the remaining amount via bank transfer, guided by N.B.

Following this payment, Firat signed two contracts and began organizing personnel for a palace project touted for $39 million, initiating the first glass production for $39,000.

Continuous deception and delays

Firat traveled to the UAE frequently with a group of architects and engineers to expedite the project. However, N.B. continually postponed the project, initially set to start in May, first to June, and then to July, leading Firat to grow suspicious.

Renting home turns into another scam

In April 2023, upon arriving in the UAE, Firat was met by N.B., who falsely informed him that the company registration was complete and that he needed to obtain identification and residency permits.

N.B. then introduced him to a real estate agent, where another scam unfolded. N.B. allegedly withheld rent payments from the landlord and provided three fraudulent checks with different signatures.

Additionally, it was alleged that Firat’s blood and fingerprint samples were unlawfully taken for illicit purposes, including passport forgery.

From home rental to car scam

N.B. also claimed that Firat needed to purchase a car for his newly established company, asking for a deposit of 10,000 dirhams ($2,722.58) for a BMW 740, which was never delivered.

The scam involved constantly invoking the name of the Chamber of Commerce president to instill trust in the victims.

Fraudulent loan application exposed

Firat became aware of the fraud when he visited a bank to inquire about his account. He discovered that a loan application for 7 million dirhams (approximately $1.8 million) had been submitted in his name without his knowledge.

Upon returning to Türkiye, he realized that a $19 million contract for a hotel construction signed by his friend H.D. had also been voided, confirming their suspicions of being defrauded.

Connections to corruption

Throughout this ordeal, it was uncovered that the management of the Dubai bank involved in the unauthorized loan application was connected to the Chamber of Commerce president. Attempts to contact N.B. were futile, and in November 2023, Firat was detained at the UAE airport.

Coercion and threats during detention

Firat learned that N.B. had filed a defamation complaint against him, resulting in his house arrest for 35 to 40 days. During this time, N.B. pressured Firat into signing a contract that absolved all illegal activities in exchange for withdrawing the complaint.

Wider implications of fraud

Firat discovered that N.B. had swindled at least seven to eight others in the UAE using the same methods, each losing between $30,000 and $100,000.

The shocking claims from G.G., a close associate of the Chamber of Commerce president, revealed that numerous individuals had been defrauded under the guise of company establishment, and their blood and fingerprints were exploited to create fake passports for sale at $600,000. Allegations also surfaced regarding the gang’s involvement in gold smuggling.

Ongoing investigations and new victims

As the investigation continues, six Turkish businesspeople have reported being victimized by this fraud scheme, and authorities have begun to receive reports of additional victims. Despite prior complaints, the scam network has resumed operations, targeting new businesspeople in Türkiye who are struggling to invest economically.

The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is currently conducting inquiries and gathering evidence as they investigate this alarming case.

Structure of fraud networks in Dubai

Fraud networks based in Dubai typically operate through fake identities and seemingly trustworthy individuals. These types of fraudulent organizations convince their victims by initially establishing trust through references from well-known people and institutions.

They then make a series of misleading promises, encouraging their targets to invest large sums of money. It has been observed that fraudsters often target professional businesspeople and high-income individuals, further indicating that these scams are organized crime.

Future risks and preventions

Turkish businesspeople need to be more cautious to minimize the risks of fraud they may encounter abroad. Authorities recommend conducting thorough research before investing and working with reliable consultants.

Additionally, seeking help from a lawyer or legal advisor in case of potential fraud is highlighted as one of the ways to reduce risks. Effective strategies are expected to be developed in the future to prevent similar fraudulent cases.