Can foreigners recover money after being defrauded by an immigration or citizenship consultant in Turkey? Learn about lawsuits, criminal complaints, refunds, precautionary attachment, fake residence permits, citizenship scams, investment fraud and compensation claims in 2026.

Foreign nationals seeking a Turkish residence permit, work permit, property-based immigration solution or Turkish citizenship can become targets of individuals or companies claiming to have special access to government authorities. A consultant may promise a “guaranteed residence permit,” demand large amounts for supposed government fees, claim that citizenship approval is certain, request payment to a personal bank account, fabricate application documents or disappear after receiving the client’s money.

A foreigner who has been defrauded in this way can potentially pursue civil recovery, compensation, criminal remedies and urgent measures to preserve the consultant’s assets in Turkey. The correct strategy depends on what was promised, how the money was paid, whether any genuine service was performed, whether false documents were used and whether the consultant deliberately deceived the foreigner from the beginning.

An especially important warning in 2026 is that the Turkish Presidency of Migration Management continues to warn foreigners against unauthorized third parties. Its official residence-permit system expressly warns that the authority does not work with third-party individuals or companies for foreigners’ procedures and warns applicants against relying on such persons. Foreign nationals should therefore distinguish legitimate professional assistance from a person falsely presenting themselves as an official intermediary or claiming privileged government access.

1. Can a Foreigner Sue an Immigration Consultant in Turkey?

Yes.

Foreign nationality does not prevent a person from bringing a civil claim in Turkey against a consultant, intermediary, company, agent or other person who unlawfully received or retained the foreigner’s money.

Depending on the facts, claims can potentially seek:

Refund of Money Paid

Compensation for Financial Loss

Interest

Recovery Based on Invalid or Terminated Contractual Arrangements

Compensation for Fraudulent Conduct

and other available remedies.

The correct legal basis depends on the transaction.

2. Fraud and Poor Service Are Not Automatically the Same Thing

This distinction is essential.

A consultant may provide poor service, miss a deadline or incorrectly predict the outcome of an immigration application.

That does not automatically mean criminal fraud occurred.

Criminal fraud generally requires intentional deceptive conduct designed to obtain an unlawful benefit.

Therefore:

Bad Service ≠ Automatically Fraud.

But:

Intentional Deception to Obtain Money Can Constitute Fraud.

3. Example of an Ordinary Service Dispute

A consultant tells a foreigner:

“Based on your documents, I believe your residence permit application has a good chance.”

The application is submitted correctly but ultimately rejected by the competent authority.

The rejection alone does not prove fraud.

No private consultant can guarantee how the competent Turkish authority will decide a residence permit or citizenship application.

4. Example of Potential Fraud

A consultant tells a foreigner:

“I personally know the immigration director. Pay me USD 15,000 and your residence permit is guaranteed.”

The consultant takes the money, never files an application and provides fabricated government documents.

This presents a fundamentally different legal situation.

Evidence of intentional deception may support both civil and criminal remedies.

5. Guaranteed Residence Permit Claims Are a Major Warning Sign

Foreigners should be suspicious when someone promises:

100% Guaranteed Residence Permit

Guaranteed Citizenship

Guaranteed Immigration Approval

Guaranteed Removal of Deportation Code

or

Guaranteed Entry-Ban Cancellation.

Immigration and citizenship decisions are made by competent public authorities according to applicable law.

A private intermediary cannot lawfully guarantee the discretionary or statutory decision of the administration.

6. Official Turkish Immigration Authorities Warn About Third Parties

The Turkish immigration authority’s current residence-permit application system warns applicants that it does not work with third-party individuals or legal entities for foreigners’ procedures and advises foreigners not to rely on such third parties.

This does not mean a foreigner cannot obtain legitimate legal or professional assistance.

It means foreigners should be extremely cautious about anyone pretending to be an officially connected immigration intermediary.

7. Fake Government Website Scam

One common fraud model involves a website designed to resemble an official Turkish government or immigration website.

The foreigner searches online for:

Turkey Residence Permit

and clicks a sponsored or highly ranked page.

The website asks for:

Passport

Personal Information

Address

Phone Number

and payment.

The foreigner may mistakenly believe they are dealing directly with the Turkish government.

8. Fake Residence Permit Fee

The scammer may demand:

USD 1,500 Government Processing Fee

or

EUR 2,000 Immigration Approval Fee.

The foreigner transfers the money to a personal or company bank account.

Official Turkish immigration guidance specifically warns that residence-permit application fees are not paid by depositing money into arbitrary individual or company bank accounts as part of an alleged official immigration procedure.

A demand of this nature should therefore be investigated carefully.

9. Real Professional Fee and Fake Government Fee Are Different

A legitimate professional may charge a fee for genuine professional services.

That should not be confused with someone falsely telling the foreigner:

“This money goes directly to the government.”

The distinction should be clear in:

Contract

Invoice

Payment Description

and correspondence.

10. Fake Residence Permit Application

A consultant may tell the foreigner:

“Your application has been submitted.”

But no application exists.

The foreigner later discovers that the lawful stay period has expired.

This can cause:

Overstay

Administrative Fine

Entry Ban

Residence Permit Problems

and potentially deportation-related consequences.

The foreigner’s damages may therefore extend beyond the fee paid to the consultant.

11. Fake Residence Permit Card

A more serious scam involves providing the foreigner with a fabricated residence permit card.

The foreigner believes legal status has been obtained.

Later, during:

Police Check

Airport Control

Bank Procedure

or another official process, the document is discovered to be false.

This can create serious immigration and potentially criminal complications.

12. What Should the Foreigner Do After Discovering a Fake Document?

Do not continue using it.

The foreigner should immediately preserve:

Document

Envelope

Messages

Payment Records

Consultant’s Instructions

and all evidence showing who supplied the document and what the foreigner was told.

Legal advice should be obtained promptly to address both the fraud and the foreigner’s immigration status.

13. False Information Submitted Without the Foreigner’s Knowledge

Another dangerous situation occurs where the consultant files false information in the foreigner’s name.

Examples include:

Fake Rental Agreement

Fake Address

False Employment Information

Fake Insurance

Fabricated Financial Documents

or other false evidence.

The foreigner should act quickly after discovering the problem.

14. Immigration Consequences Can Affect the Victim Too

Being defrauded does not automatically prevent immigration authorities from examining inaccurate documents submitted in the foreigner’s application.

Therefore, the victim may need two parallel strategies:

Fraud Recovery Strategy

and

Immigration Damage-Control Strategy.

Proving that the false document was created and submitted by the consultant without the foreigner’s knowledge can become extremely important.

15. Preserve Messages Showing the Consultant Controlled the Application

Useful messages may include:

“Don’t worry, I will prepare everything.”

“You don’t need to attend.”

“I have arranged the address.”

“I will provide the rental agreement.”

or

“Your card is ready.”

Such communications can help establish who created or controlled the questionable documents.

16. Citizenship Consultant Fraud

Citizenship-related fraud can involve much larger amounts.

A foreigner may be told:

“Invest USD 400,000 and citizenship is guaranteed.”

The consultant then directs the client toward:

Overpriced Property

Fake Property

Non-Qualifying Investment

False Valuation

Artificial Transaction

or a payment structure that does not satisfy legal requirements.

The resulting loss can be substantial.

17. Citizenship Is Never Merely a Consultant’s Promise

Even where an investment appears to satisfy a statutory investment category, Turkish citizenship is determined through the legally prescribed administrative process.

A private consultant cannot transform a non-qualifying investment into citizenship simply by promising approval.

18. Fake Citizenship Certificate

Some fraudsters provide foreigners with fabricated:

Citizenship Approval Letter

Identity Document

Application Certificate

or purported government correspondence.

The document should be verified through official records rather than accepted based on appearance.

19. Fake Citizenship Application Number

A consultant may send a screenshot allegedly showing that the citizenship application is pending.

Foreigners should independently verify whether a genuine application exists.

A screenshot can be manipulated.

20. Citizenship Application Never Filed

A foreigner may pay substantial professional and processing fees and wait for months.

The consultant repeatedly says:

“Your file is under security investigation.”

Eventually the foreigner discovers that no application was ever submitted.

This can strongly support a recovery claim depending on the evidence.

21. Property-Based Citizenship Fraud

One of the highest-risk areas involves citizenship combined with real estate.

The consultant may act simultaneously as:

Immigration Consultant

Property Broker

Developer Representative

and supposed investment adviser.

This creates significant conflicts of interest.

22. Inflated Property Price

A foreign investor may be told that an apartment is worth USD 500,000.

The real market value may be significantly lower.

The consultant or connected seller keeps the difference.

The foreigner should investigate:

Actual Seller

Actual Sale Price

Appraisal

Commission

Related Companies

and the destination of every payment.

23. Consultant Takes a Secret Commission

A hidden commission does not automatically establish fraud in every transaction.

However, intentional concealment can become important where the consultant represented themselves as acting solely for the foreign buyer while secretly receiving substantial payments from the seller or developer.

24. Fake Investment Project

The consultant may persuade the foreigner to invest in a project that:

Does Not Exist

Does Not Own the Land

Has No Relevant Permit

Has Already Been Sold to Others

or is controlled by an insolvent entity.

The case can then involve both immigration/citizenship fraud and real-estate litigation.

25. Fake Bank Deposit Citizenship Scheme

Another scam may involve a person claiming:

“Send the money to my company. We will arrange the qualifying deposit for you.”

The foreigner should be extremely cautious.

Qualifying investment structures should be implemented through the legally required institutions and documentation, not through unexplained transfers to an intermediary.

26. Fake Government Connection

One of the clearest warning signs is:

“I know someone inside the Ministry.”

“I have connections at immigration.”

“I can guarantee the citizenship committee.”

“I can remove your code secretly.”

Foreigners should not pay money for alleged unofficial influence over public officials.

27. Bribery Allegations Create Additional Risk

If the consultant asks for money allegedly to bribe an official, the foreigner should not participate.

The issue can extend beyond private fraud and create serious criminal-law concerns.

Seek independent legal advice immediately.

28. Fake Lawyer Scam

A person may introduce themselves as a Turkish lawyer without actually being authorized to practice law.

Foreign clients dealing remotely are particularly vulnerable.

Before granting a power of attorney or sending significant money, the person’s professional identity should be independently verified.

29. Stolen Identity of a Real Professional

Some scammers impersonate genuine lawyers or professionals.

They may copy:

Name

Photograph

Office Information

Website Content

or social-media profiles.

Therefore, confirming that the bank account and communication channel genuinely belong to the professional being instructed is essential.

30. WhatsApp-Only Consultant

Using WhatsApp is not itself suspicious.

However, significant risk exists where the person has:

No Verifiable Identity

No Contract

No Invoice

No Office

No Company Details

and requests substantial transfers to unrelated personal accounts.

31. Social Media Immigration Scam

Foreigners increasingly encounter consultants through:

Instagram

Facebook

Telegram

TikTok

or messaging groups.

Advertisements may claim:

“Residence Permit Guaranteed in 7 Days.”

“Citizenship Without Investment.”

“Remove Deportation Code Immediately.”

“No Need to Attend Immigration Office.”

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary caution.

32. Can the Foreigner Recover the Consultant Fee?

Potentially yes.

If the agreed service was not performed, was fraudulently misrepresented or the contractual relationship otherwise gives rise to restitution or compensation, the foreigner may seek recovery.

Evidence of the agreement is crucial.

33. What If There Is No Written Contract?

Lack of a formal written contract does not necessarily mean recovery is impossible.

Other evidence can potentially establish the relationship, including:

WhatsApp Messages

Emails

Bank Transfers

Invoices

Voice Messages

Witnesses

Application Documents

and acknowledgments of payment.

34. Bank Transfer Is Important Evidence

A bank transfer can establish:

Recipient

Date

Amount

and sometimes the stated purpose of payment.

Descriptions such as:

“Citizenship Consultancy Fee”

or

“Residence Permit Service”

can be particularly useful.

35. Blank Bank Transfer Description

A blank description is less helpful but does not necessarily defeat the claim.

Messages sent before and after the transfer can help establish why the money was paid.

36. Payment to Consultant’s Personal Account

Suppose the contract is with Company A but the consultant instructs the foreigner to pay their personal account.

This can complicate the case.

The foreigner should preserve the message containing the payment instruction.

Potential liability of both the company and individual should be evaluated based on the facts.

37. Payment to a Relative

Scammers sometimes instruct victims to transfer money to:

Spouse

Brother

Friend

or another third party.

The recipient’s role should be investigated.

The foreigner should preserve evidence showing that the consultant directed the payment.

38. Cash Payment

Cash creates evidentiary difficulties but does not necessarily make recovery impossible.

Useful evidence may include:

Receipt

Messages Confirming Receipt

Witnesses

Cash Withdrawal Record

or subsequent acknowledgment by the consultant.

39. Cryptocurrency Payment

Fraudsters may request payment through cryptocurrency because funds can be harder to recover.

The foreigner should preserve:

Wallet Addresses

Transaction Hashes

Exchange Records

Messages

and identity information linking the wallet to the consultant.

Early action becomes particularly important.

40. Foreign Bank Transfer

A foreigner may have sent funds from a bank outside Turkey.

The SWIFT record can still be important evidence.

Obtain the complete transfer document rather than only a mobile-banking screenshot.

41. Can the Foreigner File a Criminal Complaint?

Potentially yes.

Where evidence indicates intentional deception designed to obtain an unlawful benefit, a criminal complaint may be appropriate.

The precise criminal characterization depends on how the scheme was carried out.

42. Fraud Through Digital Systems

Where the scheme involved:

Internet Advertisement

Fake Website

Electronic Banking

Social Media

or other digital mechanisms, the method used can become relevant to the criminal investigation.

Preserve electronic evidence immediately.

43. Criminal Complaint Does Not Automatically Recover the Money

This is a critical distinction.

A foreigner may believe:

“I complained to the prosecutor, so the government will return my money.”

Not necessarily.

Criminal proceedings focus primarily on criminal responsibility.

Recovery may require:

Civil Claim

Enforcement Proceedings

Asset Preservation

or other monetary remedies.

44. Civil and Criminal Proceedings Can Run in Parallel

Depending on the facts, the victim may pursue both:

Criminal Investigation

and

Civil Recovery.

Waiting for the criminal case to finish before considering asset preservation can be dangerous.

45. Why Speed Matters

A fraudulent consultant who realizes the victim is taking legal action may attempt to:

Empty Bank Accounts

Transfer Property

Sell Vehicles

Transfer Company Shares

or move funds abroad.

A successful judgment years later is much less useful if the defendant has no reachable assets.

46. Can the Consultant’s Assets Be Frozen?

Depending on the type of monetary claim and whether statutory conditions are satisfied, Turkish law provides provisional mechanisms that can protect a creditor before final judgment.

For monetary claims, precautionary attachment can be particularly important.

It is not automatic.

The applicant must satisfy the applicable legal requirements and the court may require security.

47. Precautionary Attachment

Precautionary attachment can potentially target assets such as:

Bank Accounts

Real Estate

Vehicles

and other attachable property.

The purpose is to reduce the risk that the defendant frustrates collection before the dispute is finally resolved.

48. Interim Injunction

An interim injunction may be relevant where the dispute concerns a specific asset or right rather than simply a monetary debt.

The appropriate provisional measure depends on what the victim is trying to protect.

Therefore:

Precautionary Attachment ≠ Interim Injunction.

49. Consultant Bought Property With the Victim’s Money

Suppose a consultant receives USD 300,000 supposedly for a citizenship investment.

Instead, the consultant purchases property in their own name.

The money trail should be investigated immediately.

Depending on the facts, multiple civil, provisional and criminal remedies may become relevant.

50. Consultant Transfers Assets to Family Members

A consultant may transfer assets to relatives after realizing that litigation is likely.

Such transactions should be investigated rather than automatically accepted as placing the assets beyond recovery.

Depending on the legal circumstances, Turkish law provides remedies against certain transactions designed to defeat creditors.

51. Company Has No Assets

A common problem is that the foreigner contracted with a limited-liability company that has little or no property.

The foreigner should investigate:

Who Received the Money?

Who Made the False Representations?

Where Did the Money Go?

Were Company Assets Diverted?

and whether any individual liability can legally be established.

52. Company Liability Does Not Automatically Mean Director Liability

A shareholder, manager or director is not automatically personally liable for every debt of a company.

Separate legal personality must be respected.

However, personal fraudulent conduct can create a different legal analysis.

The facts must establish a legal basis for personal liability.

53. Can the Foreign Victim Claim Additional Damages?

Potentially, depending on legal basis, proof and causation.

The victim may have suffered losses beyond the consultancy fee.

Examples can include:

Immigration Fine

Lost Investment Funds

Additional Accommodation

Travel Expenses

Costs Caused by Missed Deadlines

or other provable financial loss.

Not every consequential loss will automatically be recoverable.

54. Lost Citizenship Opportunity

A claim framed simply as:

“I would definitely have become a Turkish citizen”

can be difficult because citizenship is not a result a consultant can guarantee.

A stronger damages analysis focuses on actual, provable financial loss caused by the wrongful conduct.

55. Immigration Fine Caused by Consultant

Suppose the consultant falsely tells the foreigner that a residence permit extension was submitted.

The foreigner relies on this statement.

Months later, the person discovers there was no application and has accumulated an immigration violation.

Evidence connecting the consultant’s deception with the resulting financial loss can be relevant to a damages claim.

56. Deportation Caused by Fake Documents

A much more serious situation arises where fraudulent documents supplied by the consultant lead to:

Residence Permit Rejection

Residence Permit Cancellation

or deportation proceedings.

The foreigner should urgently address the immigration decision independently from the compensation claim.

57. Suing the Consultant Does Not Automatically Stop Deportation

This distinction is crucial.

A civil lawsuit against the consultant does not automatically suspend:

Deportation

Entry Ban

Residence Permit Cancellation

or another immigration decision.

Separate immigration remedies must be used.

58. Criminal Complaint Does Not Automatically Restore Residence Status

Likewise, telling immigration authorities:

“I was defrauded”

does not automatically create lawful residence.

The foreigner should simultaneously determine the correct immigration procedure.

59. Evidence That the Foreigner Was a Victim Can Still Be Important

Although fraud does not automatically restore immigration status, evidence showing that the foreigner did not knowingly participate in false documentation can be highly important.

The victim should preserve a clear timeline showing:

What the Consultant Promised

What the Foreigner Provided

What the Consultant Created

What Was Submitted

and

When the Foreigner Discovered the Fraud.

60. Do Not Delete Communications After Discovering the Fraud

Angry victims sometimes block the consultant and delete the entire conversation.

This can destroy valuable evidence.

Instead, preserve:

Full Chat Export

Screenshots

Voice Messages

Emails

Attachments

Call Logs

and transaction records.

What Evidence Should Foreign Victims Collect?

A strong evidence file can include: Consultancy Agreement → Power of Attorney → Consultant’s Identity → Company Registration Information → Invoice → Receipt → Bank Transfer → SWIFT Record → Cryptocurrency Transaction → WhatsApp Messages → Telegram Messages → Emails → Voice Messages → Advertisements → Website Screenshots → Social Media Posts → Promises of Guaranteed Approval → Fake Government Documents → Fake Residence Card → Citizenship Documents → Property Agreements → Appraisal Documents → Application Number → Immigration Rejection → Residence Permit Cancellation → Deportation Decision → Entry Ban → Overstay Fine → Witness Information → Evidence Showing Where the Money Was Sent.

Preserve Online Evidence Before It Disappears

Fraudsters can quickly delete:

Website

Instagram Account

Advertisements

WhatsApp Profile

or Telegram conversations.

Evidence should therefore be preserved immediately and, where appropriate, secured through legally reliable evidence-preservation methods.

Should the Foreigner Send a Formal Demand First?

Depending on the circumstances, a formal demand can be useful.

It can require the consultant to:

Return Money

Provide Accounting

Deliver Documents

Explain Services Performed

or remedy contractual breaches.

However, where there is a serious risk of asset dissipation, legal strategy should consider whether giving advance warning could make recovery harder.

Example: Fake Residence Permit Consultant

A foreign national pays USD 8,000 after being promised a guaranteed residence permit.

The consultant sends a purported application document.

The foreigner later discovers that no genuine application exists.

Evidence includes bank transfer records, WhatsApp promises and the fake document.

The foreigner may evaluate civil recovery, criminal complaint and provisional asset protection.

Example: Citizenship Investment Scam

A foreign investor transfers USD 450,000 to a consultant who promises to purchase qualifying real estate.

The consultant purchases no property and stops responding.

Immediate tracing of the funds and investigation of the recipient’s Turkish assets can be crucial.

Example: Overpriced Citizenship Property

A consultant recommends a property as an “official citizenship investment” worth USD 500,000.

The consultant secretly controls the selling company and receives substantial undisclosed benefits.

The property is worth far less.

The legal analysis may involve fraud, contractual duties, property law, compensation and citizenship consequences.

Example: Consultant Files Fake Rental Agreement

A foreigner gives a consultant only a passport and genuine address information.

Without informing the foreigner, the consultant creates a fake rental agreement and submits it.

The residence application is rejected.

The foreigner should preserve evidence showing that the fabricated document originated from the consultant and separately challenge or manage the resulting immigration consequences.

Example: Fake Immigration Officer

A person tells a foreigner:

“I work directly with immigration authorities.”

The foreigner pays USD 20,000.

No application exists and the person disappears.

Evidence of false representation, payment and intentional deception can support criminal and civil proceedings.

Example: Money Sent to Consultant’s Brother

A consultant instructs the foreigner through WhatsApp:

“Send the citizenship payment to my brother’s account.”

The foreigner transfers the money.

The consultant later denies receiving anything.

The WhatsApp instruction and banking records become central evidence linking the third-party payment to the transaction.

2026 Red Flags for Immigration and Citizenship Consultant Fraud

Foreigners should be particularly cautious where a consultant claims: 100% Guaranteed Citizenship → Guaranteed Residence Permit → Guaranteed Entry-Ban Removal → Secret Government Connections → Payment to an Unrelated Personal Account → Government Fees Paid to Consultant’s Private Account → Cash Only → Cryptocurrency Only → No Contract → No Invoice → No Verifiable Professional Identity → Fake Government-Looking Website → No Official Application Number → Refusal to Provide Copies of Filed Documents → Pressure to Sign Blank Papers → Request for Passport Without Explanation → Fake Rental Agreement → Artificial Address Registration → False Employment → Fake Insurance → Inflated Citizenship Property → Secret Commission → Request to Lie to Immigration Authorities → Claim That the Foreigner Never Needs to Attend Any Official Procedure.

What Should a Foreigner Do Immediately After Discovering the Fraud?

The recommended sequence is generally: Stop Additional Payments → Do Not Use Suspected Fake Documents → Preserve Every Message → Export Electronic Conversations → Save Online Advertisements → Obtain Complete Bank Records → Obtain SWIFT Records → Preserve Cryptocurrency Transactions → Identify the Actual Recipient → Verify Whether Any Genuine Immigration or Citizenship Application Exists → Check Current Immigration Status → Determine Whether an Overstay Has Started → Determine Whether a Residence Permit Was Rejected or Cancelled → Check Whether False Documents Were Submitted → Obtain Copies of Available Application Documents → Investigate the Consultant and Company → Trace Assets → Consider Formal Demand → Evaluate Precautionary Attachment or Interim Protection → File Criminal Complaint Where Fraud Evidence Exists → Start Civil Recovery Proceedings Where Appropriate → Independently Correct the Immigration or Citizenship Problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a foreigner sue an immigration consultant in Turkey?

Yes. Foreign nationals can potentially bring civil proceedings in Turkey seeking repayment and compensation where a consultant unlawfully obtained or retained their money.

2. Can I file a criminal complaint if the consultant promised citizenship and disappeared?

Potentially yes. Where the evidence shows intentional deception designed to obtain an unlawful benefit, criminal fraud proceedings may be appropriate.

3. Is promising a guaranteed residence permit suspicious?

Yes. Residence permit decisions are made by competent Turkish authorities. A private consultant cannot guarantee the administrative result.

4. I paid cash and have no contract. Can I still recover my money?

Potentially. Lack of a written contract makes proof more difficult but does not necessarily make recovery impossible. Messages, witnesses, receipts, cash withdrawals and acknowledgments can become important.

5. Can WhatsApp messages be used as evidence?

Potentially yes. Electronic communications can be important evidence, particularly when supported by bank records and other documentation. Their authenticity and evidential weight can be disputed, so they should be preserved carefully.

6. Can I freeze the consultant’s bank account or property?

Potentially, where the statutory conditions for provisional measures such as precautionary attachment are satisfied. Such measures are not automatic and may require security.

7. Will filing a criminal complaint automatically return my money?

No. Criminal proceedings and monetary recovery are different matters. Civil litigation, enforcement and asset-preservation measures may also be necessary.

8. What happens if the consultant submitted fake documents without telling me?

Act immediately. Preserve evidence showing who prepared and submitted the documents, stop using any suspected false documents and obtain independent advice concerning both criminal/civil recovery and your immigration status.

9. Can I claim compensation if the consultant’s fraud caused me to overstay my visa?

Potentially. If causation and the applicable legal basis can be established, provable financial losses resulting from the consultant’s conduct may form part of a damages claim.

10. Can I sue if a citizenship consultant sold me an overpriced property?

Potentially, depending on how the transaction was represented, whether information was intentionally concealed, the consultant’s role, contractual obligations and evidence of loss. An expensive property alone does not automatically prove fraud.

Legal Support for Foreign Victims of Immigration and Citizenship Fraud in Turkey

Foreigners who discover immigration or citizenship fraud should avoid focusing only on getting the consultancy fee back.

A serious case can require several legal actions at the same time:

Recover the Money → Preserve the Consultant’s Assets → File a Criminal Complaint Where Appropriate → Trace Payments → Investigate Related Persons or Companies → Correct False Immigration Records → Challenge Residence Permit or Deportation Consequences → Protect the Foreigner From Liability for Documents Created Without Their Knowledge.

Speed can be particularly important where hundreds of thousands of dollars were transferred for a purported citizenship investment. A defendant who has time to empty bank accounts, transfer real estate or move funds outside Turkey can make eventual recovery considerably more difficult.

Firat Fesih Kaya Law Office assists foreign nationals who have been defrauded in residence permit, immigration, Turkish citizenship and citizenship-by-investment transactions. Firat Fesih Kaya can assist with civil recovery lawsuits, criminal complaints, precautionary attachment, asset investigation, fraudulent property transactions, fake immigration documentation, residence permit consequences and disputes involving money transferred to consultants, agents or related companies.

Where the fraud has also damaged the foreigner’s immigration status, the monetary recovery case and immigration case should be coordinated from the beginning. Suing the consultant alone does not automatically correct a residence permit violation, deportation decision or entry ban.

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