Defrauded in Turkey? How to File a Criminal Complaint and Recover Your Money

If you have been defrauded in Turkey (Türkiye), you can file a criminal complaint with the public prosecutor's office or the police, orally or in writing, and — if you are abroad — through a Turkish embassy or consulate or a lawyer acting under a power of attorney. Fraud is punished with one to five years' imprisonment, and three to ten years in its aggravated forms, which include fraud using banks or information systems, fraud by company managers in the course of business, and fraud by professionals who abuse the trust placed in them (Penal Code, Art. 157–158). A criminal case does not by itself return your money: recovery comes through the offender's repayment to obtain a reduced sentence, or through a civil claim and enforcement.

This guide explains what counts as fraud, how and where to complain, what the prosecutor does, your rights as a victim, and the realistic routes to getting money back — for the property, investment, rental and online scams that most often affect foreigners.

• Basic fraud: 1 to 5 years' imprisonment and a judicial fine (Penal Code, Art. 157).
• Aggravated fraud: 3 to 10 years; in several forms not less than 4 years, with a fine of at least twice the benefit obtained (Art. 158(1)).
• Where to complain: prosecutor's office or police; from abroad, Turkish embassies and consulates (Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 158).
• Form: written, or oral and recorded (Art. 158(5)).
• If the prosecutor decides not to prosecute: objection within two weeks to the criminal judgeship of peace (Art. 173).
• Repayment by the offender reduces the sentence by up to two thirds before prosecution, up to half before judgment (Art. 168).
• Civil claim: limitation of two years from knowledge and ten years from the act, or the longer criminal limitation period (Code of Obligations, Art. 72).

Legal status of this guide. It reflects the Turkish Penal Code (No. 5237), the Code of Criminal Procedure (No. 5271) and the Code of Obligations (No. 6098) as currently in force. Last updated: October 2026.

In this guide

• What counts as fraud
• Aggravated fraud
• Fraud or a civil dispute?
• Scams that typically affect foreigners
• The first 48 hours
• How to file the complaint
• What the prosecutor does
• Your rights as a victim
• If the prosecutor decides not to prosecute
• Getting your money back
• Acting from abroad
• Frequently asked questions

What counts as fraud

Article 157 punishes a person who deceives another by fraudulent conduct and obtains a benefit for themselves or someone else to the detriment of the deceived person or of another. The penalty is imprisonment from one to five years and a judicial fine of up to five thousand days.

Four elements have to be present:

1. Fraudulent conduct — more than a simple lie: a staged, deliberate deception capable of misleading the victim, such as false documents, a false identity or title, a fictitious company, forged title deeds, invented returns.
2. Deception — the victim was actually misled by it.
3. Loss — to the victim or a third party.
4. Benefit — to the offender or someone else, resulting from the deception.

The intention to deceive must exist at the time of the transaction. That is what separates fraud from a contract that later went wrong.

Aggravated fraud

The penalty is imprisonment from three to ten years and a judicial fine where the fraud is committed (Art. 158(1)):

Art. 158(1)	Aggravating circumstance
(a)	By exploiting religious beliefs and feelings
(b)	By taking advantage of a person's dangerous situation or difficult circumstances
(c)	By taking advantage of a person's weakened perception
(d)	By using public institutions, professional bodies, political parties, foundations or associations as an instrument
(e)	To the detriment of public institutions
(f)	By using information systems, banks or credit institutions as an instrument
(g)	By using the facilities provided by the press and broadcasting
(h)	By merchants or company managers, or persons acting on behalf of a company, in the course of commercial activities; by cooperative managers within the cooperative's activities
(i)	By self-employed professionals, abusing the trust placed in them because of their profession
(j)	To obtain a loan that should not be granted by a bank or credit institution
(k)	To obtain insurance proceeds
(l)	By a person presenting themselves as a public official or an employee of a bank, insurance or credit institution, or claiming to be connected with them

For items (e), (f), (j), (k) and (l), the minimum prison sentence is four years and the judicial fine may not be less than twice the benefit obtained. Most scams against foreigners fall within the aggravated forms: payment into a bank account, an online listing, a company acting as developer or agent, a "lawyer" or "consultant" abusing professional trust, a caller posing as a police officer or bank employee.

Aggravated fraud is tried by the heavy penal court, and its seriousness affects pre-trial measures: detention or judicial control with a travel ban is common, and precautionary seizure of assets is available.

Fraud or a civil dispute?

Prosecutors dismiss many complaints on the ground that the matter is "of a civil nature". Whether a file crosses the line depends on evidence of deception from the outset.

Points towards fraud	Points towards a civil dispute
The seller never owned the property, or sold it to several buyers	The apartment was delivered late or with defects
Forged title deed, licence, power of attorney or bank guarantee	A disagreement about the price, the quality or the interpretation of a contract
False identity, false profession, fictitious company	A business that failed after genuine efforts
Money taken and contact cut off immediately	A loan that was not repaid, without deception at the time it was made
The same method used against many victims	Partial performance and continuing communication

A complaint that sets out the deceptive acts concretely — what was said or shown, why it was false, how it induced the payment — is far more likely to be investigated than one that simply says "he took my money". Other offences may also be present: forgery of official or private documents, abuse of trust (where property entrusted for a purpose was misappropriated), and unlawful use of bank or credit cards.

Scams that typically affect foreigners

• Property. Sale by a person who is not the registered owner or whose power of attorney is forged or revoked; sale of the same unit to several buyers; off-plan projects without land or licence; inflated valuation for citizenship or residence purposes; "deposits" taken by intermediaries who disappear. A title search at the land registry before any payment prevents most of these — see can foreigners buy property in Turkey?
• Residence and citizenship "consultants". Fees taken for permits or citizenship that are never applied for, or applications supported by forged documents — which then expose the applicant to refusal and deportation.
• Rental. Deposits paid for apartments that do not exist or do not belong to the "landlord"; fake listings.
• Investment. Guaranteed-return schemes, fake trading and crypto platforms, shares in non-existent businesses.
• Impersonation. Callers claiming to be police, prosecutors or bank staff who instruct the victim to transfer money "for safekeeping".
• Medical and tourism packages. Advance payments to clinics or agencies that do not provide the service.
• Vehicles and goods. Online sales where payment is made and nothing is delivered.

The first 48 hours

1. Contact your bank immediately. Ask for the transfer to be recalled and for the recipient bank to be notified of fraud. Speed decides whether funds can still be blocked.
2. Preserve evidence. Do not delete anything. Save messages with dates and phone numbers, emails with full headers, call logs, screenshots of listings and profiles, contracts, receipts, bank transfer records, the recipient's IBAN, photographs of people, premises and vehicles.
3. Write a timeline while events are fresh: who said what, when, where, in whose presence.
4. Do not pay again. Demands for "taxes", "release fees" or "lawyer's costs" to recover the money are a second stage of the same fraud. So are unsolicited "recovery agents".
5. Do not warn the suspect that you are going to the authorities; assets move quickly.
6. File the complaint and ask expressly for the recipient account to be frozen.

How to file the complaint

• Where. A report or complaint concerning an offence may be made to the chief public prosecutor's office or to law enforcement authorities; one made to a governorate, district governorate or court is forwarded to the prosecutor (Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 158(1)–(2)). The prosecutor's office at the courthouse of the place where the offence was committed is the most direct route. For offences committed by means of information systems, specialised cybercrime units of the police handle the technical investigation.
• Form. In writing, or orally to be recorded in a statement (Art. 158(5)). A written, structured complaint with numbered attachments is strongly preferable.
• Language. The petition must be in Turkish. If you give an oral statement and do not speak sufficient Turkish, you are entitled to an interpreter (Art. 202).
• Content. Your identity and contact details; the suspect's identity as far as known — names used, phone numbers, IBANs, company names, addresses, vehicle plates; a chronological account of the facts; the deceptive acts; the amount and how it was paid; the offences you believe were committed; the evidence; and your requests — identification of the account holders, freezing and seizure of the proceeds, a travel ban on the suspects.
• Cost. Filing a criminal complaint is free.
• Complaint requirement and time limits. Fraud under Articles 157 and 158 is investigated of the prosecutor's own motion; it does not depend on a complaint and is subject only to the general limitation periods for prosecution, which run for years. Certain related offences and privileged forms — for example fraud committed to collect a debt arising from a legal relationship — do depend on a complaint within six months of learning of the act and the offender. File promptly in any case: bank and telecom records are kept only for limited periods.

What the prosecutor does

The prosecutor directs the investigation through the police: identifying the holders of the bank accounts and phone lines used; obtaining bank records and camera footage; taking the suspect's statement; and, where justified, seeking from the criminal judgeship of peace measures such as seizure of assets and bank accounts, search, arrest, detention or judicial control.

The investigation ends in one of two ways:

• An indictment, if the evidence gives rise to sufficient suspicion. The case is then tried — aggravated fraud by the heavy penal court.
• A decision not to prosecute, if sufficient evidence could not be obtained or prosecution is not possible (Art. 172(1)). The decision is notified to the victim, with information on the right to object.

Some forms of fraud fall within the scope of conciliation (uzlaştırma): before an indictment, a conciliator contacts both sides to see whether the suspect will compensate the victim in return for the case being closed. You are free to accept or refuse; an agreement recorded in the conciliation report is enforceable.

Your rights as a victim

Under Article 234, a victim and complainant has the right, during the investigation:

• to request the collection of evidence;
• to request copies of documents from the prosecutor, provided the confidentiality and purpose of the investigation are not compromised;
• to have the investigation documents and seized items examined through a lawyer;
• to ask for a lawyer to be appointed by the bar in the cases the law lists, which include offences with a minimum sentence of more than five years;
• to object to a decision not to prosecute.

During the trial, the victim may join the case as a participant (katılan), be present at hearings, question through a lawyer, submit evidence and appeal the judgment. A victim who does not speak Turkish is assisted by an interpreter (Art. 202).

If the prosecutor decides not to prosecute

The victim may object within two weeks of notification of the decision to the criminal judgeship of peace at the seat of the heavy penal court in whose district the prosecutor works (Art. 173(1)). The objection must state the facts and evidence that would justify a prosecution (Art. 173(2)). The judge may ask the prosecutor's office to extend the investigation, specifying what is needed, or reject the objection with reasons (Art. 173(3)).

An objection succeeds when it shows what was not investigated: the account holder was never identified, the bank records were not obtained, a named witness was not heard, similar complaints by other victims were not joined. A decision not to prosecute does not prevent a civil claim.

Getting your money back

The criminal court punishes; it does not, as a rule, award your loss. Recovery follows several routes, which can run in parallel.

Route	How it works
Bank recall and freezing	Fastest; effective only before the funds are withdrawn or moved on
Seizure in the criminal investigation	Proceeds of crime and assets acquired with them can be seized on the prosecutor's request by decision of the judge, and returned to the victim
Effective remorse (Art. 168)	If the offender personally shows remorse and fully makes good the victim's loss by restitution or compensation, the sentence is reduced by up to two thirds where this happens before prosecution begins, and by up to half where it happens after prosecution has begun but before judgment. Partial restitution requires the victim's consent for the reduction to apply. This gives the accused a strong incentive to pay.
Conciliation	Where applicable, an agreement to compensate in return for closing the file
Civil action	A claim for damages in tort and for annulment of the transaction. Limitation: two years from knowledge of the loss and the person liable, ten years from the act; if the act is a crime with a longer criminal limitation period, that longer period applies (Code of Obligations, Art. 72)
Enforcement	Enforcement proceedings against the offender's assets, with precautionary attachment where the claim is documented; see payment orders in Turkey
Title cancellation	Where real estate was transferred through fraud or forgery, an action for cancellation and registration of title

Be realistic. Recovery depends on whether the offender can be identified and has assets. Accounts used in scams often belong to third parties who lent their identity for a fee; they can be prosecuted and sued too, but the money has usually gone. Early action — bank notification and a seizure request on the first day — matters more than anything done later.

Defrauded in Turkey? Send a short timeline, the amount, how you paid and the recipient's details. Message Yayla Law on WhatsApp or use the contact form. Whether the funds can still be frozen depends on how quickly the bank and the prosecutor are approached.

Acting from abroad

• Through a consulate. For offences that are to be prosecuted in Turkey, a report or complaint can also be made to Turkish embassies and consulates (Art. 158(3)).
• Through a lawyer. A power of attorney issued at a Turkish consulate, or before a local notary with apostille and sworn translation, allows a Turkish lawyer to file the complaint, follow the file, join the trial and bring the civil and enforcement proceedings.
• Your statement. The prosecutor may wish to hear you. This can often be done through judicial assistance or, with the court's permission, by video link; a detailed written statement with evidence reduces the need.
• Report at home as well. A report to your own police creates a record for your bank and insurer, and is necessary if any part of the fraud took place there.
• Jurisdiction. Turkish courts have jurisdiction where the offence was committed in Turkey — including where the deception was carried out or the benefit obtained there — regardless of the victim's nationality or residence.

Frequently asked questions

How do I report fraud in Turkey?

File a complaint with the public prosecutor's office or the police, in writing or orally. From abroad, you can complain through a Turkish embassy or consulate or instruct a Turkish lawyer under a power of attorney. Filing is free.

What is the penalty for fraud in Turkey?

One to five years' imprisonment and a judicial fine for basic fraud; three to ten years for aggravated fraud, with a minimum of four years and a fine of at least twice the benefit in certain forms, including fraud using banks or information systems.

Can a foreigner file a criminal complaint in Turkey?

Yes. Nationality and residence are irrelevant. A victim who does not speak Turkish is entitled to an interpreter when giving a statement and at the hearing.

Will the criminal case get my money back?

Not directly. Money is recovered through seizure of the proceeds during the investigation, repayment by the offender to obtain a reduced sentence, conciliation, or a civil claim followed by enforcement against the offender's assets.

Is there a time limit for complaining about fraud?

Fraud under Articles 157 and 158 is investigated of the prosecutor's own motion and is subject only to the general limitation periods, which run for years. Some related offences require a complaint within six months. Complain promptly, because bank and telecom records are kept for limited periods.

The prosecutor said it is a civil matter. What can I do?

Object to the decision not to prosecute within two weeks of notification, to the criminal judgeship of peace, setting out the deceptive acts and the evidence that was not examined. You can also bring a civil claim.

Can the fraudster's bank account be frozen?

Yes. Notify your bank at once and ask the prosecutor, in the complaint, to request seizure of the account and of the proceeds. The measure is ordered by the criminal judgeship of peace.

What if the offender repays me?

Full restitution reduces the sentence by up to two thirds if made before prosecution begins, and by up to half if made before judgment. Partial restitution has that effect only with the victim's consent.

I paid a "consultant" for a residence permit that was never obtained. Is that fraud?

It may be, if you were deceived from the outset — for example by false claims of authority or forged documents. Abuse of professional trust is an aggravated form. Check your own immigration status at the same time, since applications made with forged documents have consequences for you.

Legal basis and sources

• Turkish Penal Code No. 5237, Articles 157, 158 and 168 — official consolidated text at mevzuat.gov.tr.
• Code of Criminal Procedure No. 5271, Articles 158, 172, 173, 202 and 234.
• Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098, Articles 49 and 72.

This article provides general legal information on Turkish law as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Whether particular conduct amounts to fraud depends on the evidence of deception in the individual case.