Police Call a Foreigner From an Unknown Number in Turkey: How Can They Verify the Criminal Investigation? (2026 Updated Guide)

A foreigner receives a call from someone claiming to be Turkish police. Learn how to verify whether the criminal investigation is genuine, avoid scams, understand summons procedures and protect legal rights before giving a statement.

A foreign national in Turkey may unexpectedly receive a telephone call from an unknown mobile or landline number from someone claiming to be a police officer. The caller may say that the foreigner must immediately come to a police station, provide information concerning a criminal investigation or contact a particular officer. Sometimes the call may relate to a genuine investigation. In other situations, the person may misunderstand the purpose of the call, or the communication may even be fraudulent. A foreigner should therefore verify the identity of the caller, the police unit involved and the legal reason for the requested attendance before disclosing sensitive information or taking action.

Can Turkish Police Contact a Foreigner by Telephone?

Police units may attempt to contact individuals during investigations for practical purposes. However, receiving a telephone call does not by itself explain whether the individual is being contacted as a suspect, victim, complainant, witness or merely for preliminary information.

The foreign national should determine their procedural position before providing a substantive statement.

An Unknown Number Does Not Automatically Mean the Call Is Fake

Police officers may sometimes communicate through numbers that the recipient does not recognize. Therefore, the fact that the number is unknown should not by itself be treated as proof of fraud.

At the same time, the foreigner should not assume that anyone claiming to be a police officer is genuine.

Ask Which Police Unit Is Calling

The caller should be asked to identify the police department or unit involved.

The foreigner can record the name of the unit, officer’s name, location of the police station and any information provided concerning the investigation.

Ask Why You Are Being Contacted

The person should determine whether they are allegedly being contacted as a suspect, witness, complainant or victim.

These procedural positions carry different rights and obligations.

Ask Whether There Is an Investigation File

Where appropriate, ask whether the matter relates to a prosecutor’s investigation and whether sufficient identifying information can be provided to allow the matter to be verified through lawful channels.

Investigations can contain confidentiality restrictions, so the caller may not disclose every detail over the telephone.

Do Not Give Sensitive Personal Information Immediately

A foreign national should be cautious if the caller immediately requests passport information, banking credentials, card numbers, online banking passwords, verification codes or transfers of money.

The identity and authority of the caller should first be established.

Turkish Police Do Not Resolve Criminal Cases by Demanding Money Over the Phone

A caller claiming that the foreigner must transfer money to avoid detention, deportation or prosecution should be treated with extreme caution.

Criminal investigations are not legitimately resolved through private payments to an alleged police officer.

Never Share Online Banking Passwords or Verification Codes

A genuine investigation does not justify handing a telephone caller confidential banking credentials.

This is particularly important where fraudsters create urgency by claiming that the foreigner is connected with terrorism, money laundering, immigration violations or another serious offense.

How Can the Foreigner Verify the Call?

One practical method is to obtain the police unit’s details, end the call and independently verify the unit through official channels rather than relying exclusively on contact information supplied by the caller.

A Turkish criminal lawyer can also communicate with the relevant authorities where legally possible and determine how the foreigner should respond.

Do Not Call Back a Suspicious Number Automatically

Where fraud is suspected, independently verify the institution instead of relying on the same telephone number.

Caller identification can be misleading and should not be treated as conclusive proof of official identity.

Can the Foreigner Ask for a Written Summons?

If attendance is required, the foreigner can ask how the formal summons or notification process will be handled.

A written document can help clarify where and why attendance is requested and the procedural capacity in which the individual is being called.

Is a Telephone Call the Same as a Formal Summons?

Not necessarily. Informal telephone contact and formal procedural notification should not automatically be treated as equivalent.

The legal consequences depend on the nature of the proceeding and how the person has been formally summoned.

Do Not Ignore a Genuine Police Contact

Caution does not mean that a genuine investigation should simply be ignored.

Once the call has been verified, the foreigner should determine what action is legally required and whether legal representation should be arranged before attending.

Find Out Whether You Are a Suspect

This is one of the most important questions.

A person who believes they are merely being asked to provide information may discover at the police station that they are actually being questioned as a suspect.

The legal strategy can change significantly depending on procedural status.

Suspects Have the Right to Legal Assistance

A foreign suspect should consider obtaining legal assistance before giving a substantive statement.

Lawyer Fırat Fesih Kaya emphasizes that verifying procedural status before attending can prevent a foreign national from entering an important criminal interview without understanding the allegations or applicable rights.

The Right to Remain Silent May Become Relevant

A suspect has procedural protections concerning self-incrimination. A foreigner should not feel compelled to provide a detailed defense over an unexpected telephone call.

The proper place and procedure for a formal statement should be determined first.

Do Not Explain the Entire Incident Over the Phone

If the caller appears genuine but begins asking detailed questions about alleged conduct, financial transactions, communications or other evidence, the foreigner should be cautious about giving an informal substantive statement.

A formal criminal statement has procedural safeguards that an unexpected telephone conversation may not provide in the same way.

Foreigners Who Do Not Speak Turkish Need Special Attention

Language problems can create serious misunderstandings from the first contact.

A foreigner who does not understand the caller should clearly communicate the language problem rather than pretending to understand instructions.

Interpreter Rights May Apply During Formal Criminal Proceedings

Where a suspect or accused person cannot sufficiently understand or speak the language used in the proceedings, interpretation protections can become important.

The foreigner should not sign or confirm a statement they do not understand.

Keep a Record of the Call

Write down the date and time, telephone number, name given by the caller, police unit, reason stated for the call and any instructions provided.

Screenshots of call logs may also be preserved.

Save Messages Sent After the Call

If the alleged officer sends a text or other message, preserve it.

Do not delete communications merely because the call appears suspicious. They may later help verify either legitimate official contact or attempted fraud.

Do Not Send Passport Photographs to an Unverified Caller

Foreign nationals are often asked for passport or residence-permit information in legitimate administrative contexts, but sending identity documents to an unverified person creates obvious risks.

Verify the recipient first.

What If the Caller Says There Is an Arrest Warrant?

Do not attempt to resolve such a claim through payment or negotiation with the caller.

The existence and legal consequences of an alleged warrant should be investigated through proper legal channels.

What If the Caller Threatens Immediate Arrest?

Urgent language can be used both in genuine law-enforcement situations and by fraudsters.

The foreigner should avoid panic-driven decisions and immediately obtain legal assistance if the caller claims that detention or arrest is imminent.

Can a Lawyer Check Why the Foreigner Is Wanted?

Depending on the status and accessibility of the investigation, a lawyer may be able to make inquiries, examine available records and communicate with the relevant authorities.

Some investigation materials may be restricted, and access is not unlimited in every case.

Investigation Confidentiality Can Limit Information

A foreign national should understand that failure to receive every detail immediately does not necessarily mean that no investigation exists.

Certain investigation information may be subject to confidentiality or access restrictions.

What If the Foreigner Is Outside Turkey?

A foreigner abroad who receives such a call should not assume that returning to Turkey is risk-free without first understanding the situation.

If there is concern about an arrest warrant, travel restriction, criminal investigation or previous case, legal verification before travel may be particularly important.

Airport Detention Risk Should Be Evaluated

An unresolved criminal investigation can potentially create complications when entering or leaving Turkey depending on the measures existing in the particular case.

The foreigner should verify the situation before making urgent travel decisions based solely on the telephone call.

What If the Police Ask the Foreigner to Come Immediately?

Ask which police station or unit requires attendance, the reason for attendance and procedural status.

Where the matter concerns a criminal accusation, obtaining legal advice before appearing can be important.

Do Not Destroy Evidence After Receiving the Call

Deleting messages, disposing of documents, resetting devices or attempting to conceal transactions after learning of an investigation can create additional legal and evidentiary problems.

Preserve potentially relevant information.

Do Not Contact Witnesses to Coordinate Statements

A foreign suspect should avoid attempting to persuade witnesses, complainants or other suspects to change or coordinate their accounts.

Defense preparation should proceed through lawful evidence collection and legal representation.

Preserve Evidence Supporting Mistaken Identity

If the foreigner believes the police contacted the wrong person, collect passport records, travel records, employment information, location evidence, bank information and other material capable of distinguishing the foreigner from the actual suspect.

Similar Names Can Cause Confusion

Foreign names may be recorded differently across passports, immigration records and Turkish systems.

Differences in spelling, transliteration, nationality, date of birth or passport number should be checked carefully where mistaken identity is suspected.

Verify Whether the Number Belongs to a Real Police Unit

The safest approach is independent institutional verification.

Do not rely solely on an internet search for the telephone number or information supplied by the caller. The objective is to confirm the relevant law-enforcement unit through an independent and reliable channel.

What If the Call Was Fraudulent?

Preserve the telephone number, messages, payment requests, bank details and other evidence.

If money or personal information has already been transferred, urgent steps may be necessary to preserve financial evidence and pursue available remedies.

What If Money Has Already Been Sent?

Contact the relevant bank immediately and preserve the transaction records. Depending on the circumstances, rapid action may improve the possibility of tracing or restricting funds.

A criminal complaint and other legal measures may also need to be evaluated.

What If the Call Is Genuine?

Once verified, determine:

• the police unit handling the matter;
• whether the foreigner is a suspect, witness, victim or complainant;
• whether formal attendance is required;
• whether a lawyer should attend;
• whether an interpreter is required;
• what documents should be brought;
• whether any detention or other coercive measure may exist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Turkish police call a foreigner from an unknown number?

It is possible for law-enforcement personnel to contact individuals by telephone during an investigation, but the identity of the caller and purpose of the communication should be independently verified.

Should the foreigner immediately go to the police station?

The foreigner should first understand which unit is calling, why attendance is requested and their procedural status, particularly where they may be a suspect.

Should a foreigner answer questions about the alleged offense over the phone?

A foreign suspect should be cautious about giving a substantive defense during an unexpected telephone conversation and should consider obtaining legal assistance first.

Can the caller ask for money to prevent arrest?

A demand to transfer money, provide banking credentials or pay an alleged officer should be treated as a major warning sign.

Can a foreigner ask for a written summons?

The foreigner can ask how formal attendance will be notified and request clarification concerning the official procedure.

What if the foreigner does not speak Turkish?

The language problem should be communicated immediately. During formal criminal proceedings, interpretation rights can become important.

Can a lawyer determine whether there is a genuine criminal investigation?

Depending on the case and applicable access restrictions, a lawyer may make appropriate inquiries and examine available investigation information.

What if the police say there is an arrest warrant?

The claim should be verified through proper legal channels. The foreigner should not pay anyone who promises to cancel or remove an alleged warrant.

Should the foreigner delete messages or reset their phone?

No. Destruction or alteration of potentially relevant evidence can create additional problems. Relevant records should be preserved.

What is the safest immediate response?

Record the caller’s details, avoid disclosing sensitive information or giving a substantive statement, independently verify the police unit and obtain legal assistance promptly if the contact concerns a criminal accusation, detention or arrest.

Client-Focused Criminal Defense for Foreign Nationals in Turkey

An unexpected police call can involve a criminal complaint, prosecutor’s investigation, request for a statement, outstanding warrant, mistaken identity or attempted fraud. The situation should therefore be verified before the foreign national provides a substantive statement or makes decisions that could affect the defense.

Fırat Fesih Kaya Law Office assists foreign nationals in Turkey with police and prosecutor investigations, criminal statements, detention procedures, search and seizure disputes, interpreter problems, arrest warrants and criminal-defense strategy. Lawyer Fırat Fesih Kaya can assist in determining the appropriate response to police contact and protecting the foreign national’s procedural rights throughout the investigation.

Phone:
+90 312 434 22 22

Mobile:
+90 532 769 22 22

Email:
info@firatfesihkaya.av.tr

Address:
Mevlana Boulevard No:221, Yıldırım Tower, Office No:148
06520 Balgat, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey