Learn how foreign property buyers can identify fake real estate agencies and fraudulent property agents in Turkey. This 2026 legal guide explains agency verification, fake listings, deposits, title deed fraud, payment scams, powers of attorney, warning signs and legal protections before buying property.

Foreign property buyers are particularly attractive targets for real estate fraud.

A buyer living abroad may not know the local property market, may communicate entirely online, may be unable to inspect the property personally and may rely heavily on an agent for translation, negotiations, payments and documentation.

Fraudsters understand these vulnerabilities.

A professional website, thousands of social media followers, an expensive office, polished videos and fluent English do not prove that a person or company is legally authorized to operate as a real estate business.

Turkey has strengthened the regulation of real estate advertising and brokerage activity. In 2026, electronic property advertising is subject to identity and authorization verification requirements designed specifically to combat fake listings, unauthorized brokerage and consumer victimization.

However, verification of the agency is only the first layer of protection.

A foreign buyer should independently verify:

the agency, the individual agent, the seller, the property, the title record, the seller’s authority, the purchase agreement and every payment instruction.

1. Fake Agency and Fake Property Are Different Risks

Real estate fraud can take several forms.

A foreign purchaser may encounter:

a completely fake agency;

a real company pretending to be an authorized real estate agency;

an unauthorized individual using another agency’s identity;

a fake property advertisement;

a genuine property advertised without the owner’s permission;

a real property advertised at a false price;

or

a genuine agency whose employee provides fraudulent payment instructions.

Therefore, verifying only one element of the transaction is insufficient.

2. Never Trust an Agency Because Its Website Looks Professional

Creating a sophisticated property website is relatively easy.

Fraudulent operators may use:

professional photographs, virtual tours, customer testimonials, international telephone numbers, impressive office photographs and copied property listings.

A website establishes marketing presence.

It does not establish legal authorization.

3. Verify Whether the Business Is Authorized to Conduct Real Estate Activities

Businesses conducting regulated real estate brokerage activities are subject to authorization requirements.

Current official guidance confirms that businesses engaged in real estate trading must obtain the required authorization documentation, and the regulatory framework includes professional and business qualification requirements. (Ardahan Ticaret Müdürlüğü)

Foreign buyers should therefore ask for the agency’s authorization information before paying any money.

4. Refusal to Provide Authorization Information Is a Serious Warning Sign

A legitimate agency should not become defensive when asked:

“What is your authorization information?”

Responses such as:

“Foreign buyers do not need this.”

“Our company registration is enough.”

“Our certificate is being renewed.”

“You can trust us because we have operated for ten years.”

should trigger additional investigation.

Do not transfer money until the agency’s legal status has been independently verified.

5. Company Registration Alone Does Not Prove Real Estate Authorization

This distinction is important.

A company may legally exist while lacking the necessary authorization to conduct regulated real estate brokerage activities.

For example, the existence of:

a company name, tax registration, corporate website or commercial office

does not independently establish that the business satisfies the applicable requirements for real estate brokerage.

The buyer should verify the correct authorization rather than merely asking whether the company exists.

6. Verify the Exact Legal Name

Fraudsters sometimes use names extremely similar to established businesses.

For example:

ABC International Properties

may be different from:

ABC International Property Investment

or

ABC Properties Group.

Always compare the exact legal identity appearing on:

contracts, invoices, bank accounts and authorization documents.

Small differences can matter.

7. Verify the Individual Agent

A genuine company can still be impersonated.

A fraudster may copy:

the company’s logo, website photographs, property advertisements and employee names.

If someone contacts you claiming to represent an established agency, independently contact the agency using separately verified contact information.

Do not verify the person using only the telephone number they gave you.

8. Be Careful With Social Media Property Agents

Social media has become a major channel for marketing property to international buyers.

It has also created opportunities for unauthorized and fraudulent advertisements.

Current regulatory enforcement specifically targets unauthorized and misleading property advertising in electronic environments, including social media channels. (Ticaret Bakanlığı)

An impressive social media profile should therefore never replace legal verification.

9. Thousands of Followers Prove Nothing

Follower counts can be manipulated.

Reviews can be purchased.

Comments can be fabricated.

Photographs can be copied.

A buyer should never treat:

followers, likes, testimonials or influencer endorsements

as substitutes for legal due diligence.

10. Electronic Property Listings Are Subject to Verification

Turkey has implemented an electronic verification structure for property advertisements.

The system is designed to verify the identity of the person marketing a property and whether that person has authority to market it.

Official 2026 information confirms that identity and authorization verification requirements apply to electronic real estate advertisements. (Ticaret Bakanlığı)

This is an important anti-fraud protection for foreign buyers.

11. Understand What Advertisement Authorization Means

There is an important limitation.

Authorization to advertise a property does not necessarily mean the agency has authority to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the property on behalf of the owner.

Official guidance expressly distinguishes advertising authorization from authority to complete title-related transactions or otherwise dispose of the property. (İCTİCARET)

This distinction can prevent an expensive misunderstanding.

12. Never Assume an Advertisement Proves Ownership

A property appearing on a reputable website does not prove that:

the advertiser owns it, the seller still owns it, the asking price is genuine, the property is free from encumbrances or the person receiving your deposit can legally sell it.

Ownership should be independently verified through current property records.

13. Fake Listings Often Use Real Properties

A fraudulent advertisement does not necessarily show a nonexistent apartment.

Fraudsters may copy photographs from a genuine listing and advertise the same property at a dramatically lower price.

The property exists.

The photographs are genuine.

The fraud lies in the advertiser’s lack of authority.

This makes fake listings much harder to recognize.

14. Be Suspicious of Prices Far Below Market Value

A common strategy is to create urgency using an unusually attractive price.

Examples include:

“Owner leaving the country tomorrow.”

“Emergency sale.”

“Bank repossession opportunity.”

“Developer liquidation price.”

“Foreign buyer special price.”

A bargain may be genuine.

But a dramatically discounted property should trigger more due diligence, not less.

15. The “Another Buyer Is Coming Today” Strategy

Pressure is one of the most common fraud techniques.

The agent may say:

“Three other buyers are interested.”

“Someone is coming with cash this afternoon.”

“The developer will increase the price tomorrow.”

“Send EUR 10,000 now and we will hold it.”

A legitimate transaction should survive reasonable legal verification.

If the deal disappears because you want your lawyer to check the property first, losing the deal may be far cheaper than losing the deposit.

16. Never Pay a Reservation Deposit Before Identifying the Seller

Foreign buyers are frequently asked for reservation payments.

Before paying, establish:

Who owns the property?

Who is selling it?

Who is receiving the deposit?

What happens if due diligence reveals a legal problem?

A reservation payment should not be treated as harmless merely because it represents a small percentage of the total purchase price.

17. EUR 5,000 Can Become EUR 50,000 Very Quickly

Fraud often begins with a relatively small payment.

The buyer pays EUR 5,000.

Then the agent requests:

EUR 15,000 to secure the price;

EUR 20,000 for documentation;

EUR 10,000 for administrative expenses.

The buyer gradually becomes financially committed before independent legal verification has occurred.

Do not allow small initial payments to create pressure for increasingly larger transfers.

18. Never Transfer the Purchase Price to an Agent’s Personal Account

This should be treated as a major warning sign unless there is a clearly verified legal basis.

The agent may say:

“It is faster.”

“We will transfer it to the owner.”

“Foreign buyers always pay us first.”

“Our company account has a temporary banking problem.”

The buyer should independently verify the identity and legal role of every payment recipient.

19. Personal Bank Accounts Require Extreme Caution

A property purchase price should not casually be transferred to:

the salesperson, interpreter, consultant, driver’s account or another unrelated individual.

The bank account holder should correspond with the transaction structure.

Any discrepancy requires explanation and independent verification.

20. Be Careful When the Bank Account Suddenly Changes

A common payment fraud occurs shortly before closing.

The buyer receives a message:

“Our banking details have changed. Please send the payment to this new account.”

Do not rely solely on email or messaging applications.

Independently verify any changed payment instruction through previously established and trusted channels.

21. Email Accounts Can Be Compromised

Even a genuine real estate agency can become involved in fraud if its email system is compromised.

A criminal may monitor correspondence and send fraudulent payment instructions at the correct moment.

Before transferring a substantial purchase price, verify:

recipient name, account ownership, payment amount and purpose

through an independent channel.

22. Verify the Seller Independently

The real estate agent is not the seller.

The buyer should establish the seller’s identity and compare it with the property records.

If the registered owner is a company, verify:

the company’s legal existence and the authority of the person signing on its behalf.

If the registered owner is an individual, identity must similarly be confirmed.

23. Never Accept “The Owner Is Abroad” as an Excuse for Missing Documents

Owners can legitimately live abroad.

But that does not eliminate the need to verify:

ownership, identity, representation authority and the transaction documents.

Remote ownership requires more careful verification, not less.

24. Power of Attorney Fraud Is a Serious Risk

A person may claim to represent the owner through a power of attorney.

The document should be independently examined.

Potential problems include:

forgery, revocation, insufficient authority, identity mismatch or lack of authority for the specific transaction.

Do not rely on a photograph sent through a messaging application.

25. Verify the Scope of the Power of Attorney

Even a genuine power of attorney may not authorize everything the agent claims.

The representative’s authority must cover the intended transaction.

Pay particular attention to authority concerning:

sale, purchase price receipt, title transfer and other material acts.

26. Fake Title Deeds Can Look Convincing

A scanned title document is not sufficient proof of current ownership.

Documents can be:

altered, outdated, copied or fabricated.

Even a genuine historical title document does not prove that the person still owns the property today.

Current property records should be checked independently.

27. A Genuine Title Document Can Still Be Outdated

Suppose the seller sends a genuine title document issued three years ago.

Since then, the property may have:

been sold, mortgaged, attached or become subject to legal restrictions.

The relevant question is not:

“Is this document genuine?”

It is:

“What is the property’s current legal status?”

28. Check Mortgages

A property can be genuine and the seller can be genuine while the transaction remains dangerous.

The property may be mortgaged.

The buyer should determine:

who holds the mortgage, what obligation it secures and how the mortgage will be released.

Do not rely solely on the agent saying:

“The mortgage is not important.”

29. Check Attachments

A property may also be subject to creditor enforcement.

An attachment can materially affect the buyer’s ability to obtain the property safely.

The registry should therefore be reviewed before substantial payment and again close to transfer.

30. Check Court Restrictions and Other Encumbrances

Due diligence should identify relevant:

court restrictions, easements, usage rights and other registered limitations.

The legal significance of an entry should be evaluated before the buyer commits financially.

31. Verify the Exact Apartment

Large developments can contain hundreds of nearly identical units.

A fraudster or dishonest intermediary may show one apartment while contracting for another.

Compare:

building, floor, independent unit number, size and property records.

The apartment physically shown to the buyer must correspond with the property legally being purchased.

32. Verify New Construction Projects

Foreign buyers are often targeted with newly built and off-plan developments.

Before paying, investigate:

developer, land ownership, construction authorization, approved project, mortgages, payment structure and the developer’s authority to sell the unit.

The real estate agency’s reputation does not eliminate developer risk.

33. Contact the Developer Independently

If an agency claims to be an authorized seller for a major development, verify that relationship directly with the developer using independently obtained contact information.

Do not call a telephone number supplied exclusively by the agent and treat that as independent verification.

34. Beware of Fake Developer Representatives

Fraudsters may impersonate sales representatives from legitimate construction companies.

They may use:

copied logos, similar email addresses and genuine project brochures.

Check the sender’s identity independently before transferring any reservation payment.

35. Examine the Domain Name Carefully

A fraudulent website may imitate a legitimate business using a slightly different domain.

Examples include:

company-property.example

instead of

companyproperties.example

or subtle spelling variations.

Email addresses should receive the same scrutiny.

36. Free Email Accounts Can Be a Warning Sign

A professional real estate business communicating exclusively through a generic free email account deserves additional scrutiny.

This does not automatically prove fraud.

However, where substantial property funds are involved, the buyer should independently establish the identity of the business and its representatives.

37. Be Careful With Messaging-Only Agencies

Some alleged agencies communicate entirely through messaging applications.

They may refuse:

video meetings, office visits, formal emails or documentation.

This should raise concern.

A foreign buyer should be able to establish who the counterparty actually is.

38. Verify the Physical Office

An office address on a website proves little by itself.

Fraudsters may use:

virtual offices, copied addresses or addresses belonging to unrelated businesses.

Where the agency’s legitimacy is uncertain, its actual commercial presence should be verified independently.

39. Expensive Offices Do Not Guarantee Safety

The opposite is also true.

A luxurious office does not prove that every transaction handled there is legally safe.

A legitimate agency can still market:

a problematic property, an unauthorized project or an apartment with legal defects.

Agency verification and property verification are separate processes.

40. Ask for the Written Brokerage Documentation

Current rules continue to require real estate businesses to prepare relevant contractual documents for brokerage activities; electronic advertising authorization does not replace those contractual requirements. (İCTİCARET)

Foreign buyers should therefore be cautious where an agent refuses to document the brokerage relationship properly.

41. Never Sign Blank Documents

Do not sign:

blank reservation forms, incomplete purchase agreements, blank payment receipts or documents containing empty sections to be completed later.

Once signed, missing information can potentially be inserted without the buyer’s knowledge.

Every document should be complete before signature.

42. Never Sign a Document You Do Not Understand

Foreign purchasers sometimes sign documents because an agent verbally translates them.

That creates obvious risk.

The person earning a commission from the transaction should not be the buyer’s only source of explanation concerning legal obligations.

Important documents should receive independent review.

43. Translation Fraud Can Occur

A buyer may be told:

“This document only reserves the apartment.”

The document may actually contain:

purchase obligations, cancellation penalties, commission obligations or acknowledgments of payment.

Never rely solely on an interested intermediary’s verbal translation.

44. Be Suspicious of Guaranteed Investment Returns

Fraudulent or aggressive property marketing often includes promises such as:

“Guaranteed 15% return.”

“Guaranteed resale.”

“Guaranteed rental income.”

“Guaranteed profit within one year.”

Ask:

Who guarantees it?

Where is the guarantee written?

What assets secure the obligation?

What happens if the guarantor does not pay?

45. Be Careful With Guaranteed Citizenship Claims

Another common sales technique is:

“Buy this property and citizenship is guaranteed.”

Property acquisition and citizenship eligibility are separate legal issues.

No private real estate agency can guarantee the final exercise of governmental authority.

Where citizenship is the objective, eligibility should be independently assessed before purchase.

46. Never Allow the Agency to Control Every Professional

A risky transaction often looks like this:

the agency selects the lawyer;

the agency selects the interpreter;

the agency selects the valuation professional;

the agency prepares the contract;

the agency receives the money;

the agency communicates with the seller.

The buyer then has no genuinely independent source of information.

Independent legal representation creates an important separation of interests.

47. The Agency’s Lawyer Is Not Automatically Your Lawyer

A lawyer working for the developer or agency owes professional responsibilities to their own client.

Foreign buyers should not assume that the seller’s legal team is independently protecting the purchaser.

For substantial transactions, separate representation can significantly reduce risk.

48. Beware of “You Do Not Need a Lawyer”

A salesperson may say:

“The transaction is simple.”

“Foreigners never need lawyers.”

“We handle everything internally.”

“A lawyer will only slow down the purchase.”

A legitimate agent should not fear independent due diligence.

49. Do Not Give the Agency Unrestricted Power of Attorney

Foreign buyers sometimes issue broad powers of attorney because they cannot remain in the country.

This can create significant risk.

Authority should be limited to what is actually required.

Avoid unnecessary powers involving:

unrelated properties, borrowing, mortgages, bank accounts or unrestricted receipt and transfer of money.

50. Never Give Banking Credentials to an Agent

An agent does not need:

your online banking password, verification code, card password or account security credentials

to assist with a property transaction.

Requests for such information should be treated as a major fraud warning.

51. Never Send Passport Copies Casually

Property transactions legitimately require identity documentation at certain stages.

However, passport copies can also be misused.

Before sending identity documents, establish:

who is receiving them, why they are required and how they will be used.

Avoid distributing sensitive documents through unnecessary channels.

52. Watermarks Can Reduce Document Misuse

Where appropriate, copies provided during preliminary processes can be marked to indicate their intended transaction purpose.

This does not eliminate identity theft risk, but it can reduce opportunities for unrelated reuse.

Sensitive original documentation should be handled carefully.

53. Be Suspicious of Unexplained “Government Fees”

Fraudsters may request money described as:

special foreign buyer tax, foreign ownership permit fee, registration security fee, citizenship approval fee or government guarantee payment.

Before paying any purported governmental charge, independently verify:

the legal basis, amount and legitimate payment recipient.

54. Ask for an Itemized Closing Statement

Before transferring substantial funds, request a clear breakdown of:

purchase price, taxes, official expenses, brokerage commission, legal fees and other costs.

Unexplained lump-sum requests create opportunities for overcharging and fraud.

55. Commission Must Be Understood Before Signing

The buyer should know:

whether commission is payable, who pays it, how it is calculated and when it becomes due.

Do not wait until title transfer to discover an unexpected brokerage claim.

56. Beware of Double Commission Arrangements

An agency may receive compensation from multiple parties.

That does not automatically establish wrongdoing, but potential conflicts should be understood.

The buyer should know whether the agent is acting:

for the seller, buyer or both sides.

57. Do Not Pay the Entire Price Before Legal Verification

One of the strongest practical protections is simple:

Do not transfer the substantial purchase price before the property and seller have been independently checked.

Recovering money after fraud is usually more difficult than preventing the transfer.

58. Verify Payment Immediately Before Transfer

Before a major payment, confirm:

recipient identity, account holder, amount, currency and purpose.

If anything has changed since the original instructions, stop and verify again.

59. Avoid Cash Transactions

Large undocumented cash payments create serious evidentiary problems.

Banking records provide a much clearer trail if a dispute later arises.

Every significant payment should be properly documented.

60. Keep Every Piece of Evidence

Foreign purchasers should preserve:

advertisements, screenshots, emails, messages, contracts, receipts, bank records, agency information, property photographs and payment instructions.

If fraud occurs, these records can become crucial evidence.

61. Take Screenshots Before the Advertisement Disappears

Fraudulent listings can disappear immediately after payment.

Preserve evidence of:

advertised price, property description, seller claims, agency identity and promised characteristics.

Do this before transferring a reservation payment.

62. Save Messaging Conversations

Messages may document statements concerning:

ownership, mortgages, citizenship eligibility, rental guarantees, delivery dates and refund promises.

Do not delete them after completing the purchase.

63. Record the Exact Property Advertised

Save the property reference number and photographs.

If the agent later claims that the buyer misunderstood which apartment was being purchased, this evidence may become important.

64. Verify Everything Again Before Closing

Due diligence conducted three months earlier may no longer reflect the current position.

Immediately before closing, verify critical matters again, particularly:

ownership and registered encumbrances.

The legal condition of property can change between reservation and transfer.

65. Warning Sign: The Price Changes After Arrival

Some foreign buyers are attracted by a low online price.

After traveling, they are told:

“That apartment was just sold, but we have another one.”

This may sometimes be genuine.

But repeated bait-and-switch practices should raise concern.

Do not allow travel costs or time pressure to force a different purchase.

66. Warning Sign: The Agent Refuses to Identify the Owner

There may be legitimate reasons not to disclose every detail at the earliest marketing stage.

However, before a binding commitment or significant payment, the buyer must be able to verify who legally owns and sells the property.

Persistent refusal is a major warning sign.

67. Warning Sign: The Agent Discourages Title Verification

Statements such as:

“The title is guaranteed.”

“The developer is famous.”

“There is no need to check.”

should increase rather than reduce caution.

A clean transaction should withstand independent verification.

68. Warning Sign: Immediate Deposit Pressure

Be particularly cautious when the agent demands a same-day transfer before providing:

property records, seller information or contract documentation.

Urgency is not a substitute for due diligence.

69. Warning Sign: Payment to an Unrelated Person

If the property belongs to one person, the agency is another company and payment is requested to a third individual, stop.

The legal relationship between all three must be established before payment.

70. Warning Sign: Refusal to Provide Receipts

Every substantial payment should be documented.

An agent who says:

“Receipts are unnecessary”

creates unnecessary legal risk.

71. Warning Sign: Documents Arrive Only After Payment

The buyer should not be told:

“First pay the deposit, then we will send the title information.”

Critical documentation should be available for verification before the buyer becomes financially committed.

72. Warning Sign: Inconsistent Property Information

Compare information across:

advertisement, contract, property records, floor plan and seller representations.

Different apartment numbers, floor descriptions or sizes require explanation.

73. Warning Sign: Unexplained Price Differences

Foreign purchasers should investigate substantial differences between:

advertised price, contractual price and payment amount.

A request to record one price while paying another amount deserves immediate legal review.

74. Warning Sign: Unusually Broad Confidentiality Demands

Be cautious if the agent says:

“Do not contact the developer.”

“Do not speak with the owner.”

“Do not show this contract to anyone.”

“Do not involve another lawyer.”

Attempts to prevent independent verification are serious warning signs.

75. Warning Sign: The Agent Guarantees Government Decisions

No private real estate agency can guarantee every governmental decision concerning:

citizenship, immigration status, planning approval or other administrative outcomes.

Such claims should be independently verified.

76. What Should You Do If You Suspect a Fake Agency?

First, stop additional payments.

Then preserve:

advertisements, contracts, messages, bank records, telephone numbers, email addresses and identity information.

The next steps depend on whether money has already been transferred and whether an actual property exists.

77. Contact Your Bank Quickly After a Suspicious Transfer

If a fraudulent payment has just occurred, speed matters.

Contact the relevant financial institution immediately and explain that the transaction is suspected to involve fraud.

Whether funds can be stopped or recovered depends on the circumstances and timing.

78. Civil Recovery May Be Necessary

Where money has been transferred under a fraudulent or failed property transaction, potential legal remedies may include:

repayment claims, contractual proceedings, debt recovery and protective measures.

The correct strategy depends on identifying who received the money and whether that person has recoverable assets.

79. Criminal Proceedings May Also Be Relevant

Deliberate property fraud can potentially raise criminal-law issues.

Examples may include:

forged documents, false ownership claims, fake agencies, impersonation or intentional deception designed to obtain money.

However, not every contractual dispute is criminal fraud.

The evidence and intent must be assessed carefully.

80. Asset Protection Can Become Urgent

Obtaining a judgment does not guarantee recovery.

If the fraudster is moving or hiding assets, available protective judicial measures may need to be evaluated quickly.

This is one reason foreign buyers should seek legal assistance immediately after discovering suspected fraud rather than waiting for repeated repayment promises.

30-Point Foreign Buyer Anti-Fraud Checklist

Before paying a real estate agency or seller, confirm:

1. The agency legally exists.
2. Its exact legal name is verified.
3. Its real estate authorization status is verified.
4. The individual agent genuinely works for the agency.
5. The agency’s physical business presence is credible.
6. The advertisement is verified where applicable.
7. The agency has authority to advertise the property.
8. The registered owner has been identified.
9. The seller’s identity matches the ownership records.
10. Any representative’s authority has been verified.
11. The property actually exists.
12. The exact independent unit has been identified.
13. Current ownership records have been checked.
14. Mortgages have been investigated.
15. Attachments have been investigated.
16. Other material encumbrances have been reviewed.
17. Developer authority has been checked for new construction.
18. Construction status has been reviewed where relevant.
19. The reservation agreement has been reviewed.
20. The purchase agreement has been reviewed.
21. Cancellation and refund terms are understood.
22. Brokerage commission is understood.
23. Every payment recipient has been identified.
24. Bank account ownership has been verified.
25. No unexplained third-party payment is required.
26. Government-related charges have been independently verified.
27. Marketing promises have been preserved.
28. Independent legal advice has been obtained where appropriate.
29. Final property records will be checked again before closing.
30. The substantial purchase price will not be transferred merely because an agent creates urgency.

If several of these checks cannot be completed, the buyer should seriously reconsider transferring money.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can a foreign buyer tell whether a real estate agency in Turkey is legitimate?

The agency’s legal identity and authorization status should be independently verified. A website, office, social media profile or company registration alone should not be treated as sufficient proof that the business is authorized to conduct regulated real estate brokerage.

2. Are online property advertisements verified in Turkey?

Turkey has implemented identity and authorization verification requirements for electronic real estate advertisements, specifically aimed at reducing fake listings, unauthorized brokerage and consumer victimization. (Ticaret Bakanlığı)

3. Does a verified advertisement mean the property is legally safe to buy?

No. Advertisement verification does not replace property due diligence. Ownership, mortgages, attachments, seller authority and the purchase contract must still be investigated.

4. Does authorization to advertise mean an agency can sell the property for the owner?

Not necessarily. Official guidance specifically distinguishes authority to place an advertisement from authority to complete title transactions or otherwise dispose of the property. (İCTİCARET)

5. Should I transfer a reservation deposit to the agent?

Only after the legal basis, payment recipient, refund conditions, seller and property have been properly identified. Transfers to an agent’s personal account require particular caution.

6. Can a fake agency advertise a real apartment?

Yes. Fraudsters can copy genuine photographs and property descriptions and advertise a real property without having authority to sell it.

7. Is a scanned title document enough to prove ownership?

No. Even a genuine document may be outdated. Current ownership and encumbrances should be independently verified.

8. Should I use the real estate agency’s lawyer?

The agency’s or seller’s lawyer does not automatically represent the purchaser’s interests. For significant transactions, foreign buyers should consider independent legal representation.

9. What should I do if I already transferred money to a suspected fake agency?

Stop additional payments, preserve all evidence, contact the relevant bank immediately where appropriate and obtain legal advice concerning recovery and potential protective measures.

10. What is the safest rule for foreign property buyers?

Never allow the same intermediary to be your only source of information about the agency, seller, property, legal documents and payment instructions. Independent verification is one of the strongest protections against property fraud.

Client-Focused Legal Support for Foreign Buyers Facing Real Estate Fraud

The most dangerous property scams are not always obvious.

A fraudulent transaction can involve a real apartment, genuine photographs, a professional-looking agency and authentic documents while still containing a critical falsehood concerning ownership, authority, payment instructions or the legal condition of the property.

For foreign purchasers, the safest approach is to separate the transaction into independent checks:

Is the agency legitimate?

Does the agent actually represent that agency?

Who owns the property?

Does the seller have authority to sell it?

Is the property subject to mortgages, attachments or other restrictions?

Who is legally entitled to receive the purchase money?

Does the contract protect the buyer if the transaction cannot be completed?

Fırat Fesih Kaya Law Office assists foreign individuals, overseas investors and international clients with real estate agency verification, property fraud prevention, title deed due diligence, seller verification, power of attorney review, property purchase agreements, deposit recovery, fraudulent property sales, fake document disputes and real estate litigation in Turkey.

Foreign purchasers should ideally complete independent legal verification before paying a reservation deposit or signing a binding purchase agreement. Where a suspicious payment has already been made, immediate action may be important because recovery becomes more difficult if funds are transferred onward or assets are disposed of.

For a case-specific assessment, the advertisement, agency information, property records, seller identity, purchase documents and payment instructions should be reviewed together before further funds are transferred.

Phone: +90 312 434 22 22
Mobile: +90 532 769 22 22
Email: info@firatfesihkaya.av.tr
Address: Mevlana Boulevard No: 221, Yıldırım Tower, Balgat, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey