Foreigners Accused of Online Fraud in Turkey: First 24 Hours After Arrest or Police Investigation — 2026 Guide

What happens when a foreigner is accused of online fraud in Turkey? Learn what may happen during the first 24 hours, including police questioning, phone seizure, bank records, digital evidence, custody, lawyer and interpreter rights, prosecutor procedures and possible release or judicial measures.

For a foreign national accused of online fraud in Turkey, the first 24 hours can become one of the most important stages of the entire criminal investigation.

Police may question the suspect about bank transfers, cryptocurrency transactions, WhatsApp conversations, social-media accounts, telephone numbers, IP addresses, seized mobile phones and relationships with other suspects. Bank accounts or digital devices may already have been identified before the foreigner even learns that an investigation exists.

At the same time, being accused of online fraud does not mean that the foreigner has been proven guilty.

The first 24 hours are primarily an investigative period. Authorities may be trying to determine whether the foreigner personally participated in the alleged fraud, knowingly provided an account or telephone line, received criminal proceeds, controlled a fraudulent account, or was instead another person caught in a larger chain of transactions.

For foreign suspects, the immediate priorities are therefore to determine the exact accusation, obtain legal assistance, secure an interpreter where necessary, avoid speculative statements and preserve potentially exculpatory digital and financial evidence.

The Constitutional Court emphasizes that access to legal counsel should in principle be available from the first police questioning because this early stage can shape the subsequent criminal proceedings and is closely connected with the rights to silence and against self-incrimination.

What Is Considered Online Fraud in Turkey?

Online fraud investigations can arise from many different factual situations.

Common allegations involving foreigners include:

• Fake investment platforms
• Cryptocurrency fraud
• Online banking fraud
• Fake product sales
• Social-media marketplace fraud
• Fake accommodation advertisements
• Phishing
• Identity theft
• Business email fraud
• Fake bank or investment calls
• SIM-swap schemes
• WhatsApp fraud
• Romance fraud
• Unauthorized bank transfers
• Fake cryptocurrency exchanges
• Use of another person’s bank account
• Receiving suspicious transfers
• Providing an IBAN to another person

The investigation may therefore involve both traditional financial evidence and extensive digital evidence.

What Can Trigger the Investigation?

A foreigner may become a suspect after a complainant provides police or prosecutors with:

• Bank-transfer receipts
• Screenshots
• WhatsApp conversations
• Telephone numbers
• Social-media profiles
• Email messages
• Cryptocurrency wallet information
• IP records
• Account details
• Photographs
• Voice recordings

Authorities may then attempt to identify the individuals connected to those records.

However, technical or financial connection to an event is not necessarily the same as criminal responsibility.

The First Question: Are You Actually a Suspect?

Before giving a substantive statement, the foreigner should understand their procedural status.

A person may be contacted as:

• Suspect
• Witness
• Victim
• Complainant

This distinction matters.

A foreigner initially contacted as a witness may become a suspect if investigators believe the evidence indicates personal involvement.

The individual should therefore understand their status before answering detailed questions.

What Happens If Police Call the Foreigner?

Sometimes the first contact is simply a telephone call from a police officer asking the foreigner to come to a police station.

A telephone call does not necessarily mean the person is under arrest.

The foreigner should establish:

• Which police unit is calling?
• Which investigation is involved?
• Which prosecutor’s office is handling the case?
• Is the person a suspect or witness?
• Is there a formal summons?
• Is there an arrest or compulsory-appearance order?

Fraudsters themselves sometimes impersonate police officers or prosecutors, so the legitimacy of unexpected calls should also be verified.

What Happens If the Foreigner Is Arrested?

If a foreigner is formally apprehended, the situation becomes substantially more serious.

The Turkish Constitution requires an apprehended person to be informed of the reasons for the apprehension and the accusations against them. It also establishes constitutional limits on deprivation of liberty without judicial review.

Police custody and pre-trial detention must not be confused.

Apprehension is the initial deprivation of liberty.

Police custody is temporary detention while investigative procedures are completed.

Pre-trial detention requires a judicial decision.

Police cannot themselves issue the final judicial order placing a suspect in pre-trial detention.

Can a Foreigner Be Placed in Police Custody?

Yes, if the statutory requirements are satisfied.

Under the criminal-procedure framework, police custody is justified where it is necessary for the investigation and there are indications supporting suspicion that the person committed the offence.

Constitutional Court materials explaining Article 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code emphasize both requirements: investigative necessity and indications suggesting that the person committed the alleged offence.

Therefore:

Online-fraud accusation ≠ automatic police custody.

The circumstances of the individual investigation matter.

How Long Can Police Custody Last?

For the ordinary custody regime, the period generally cannot exceed 24 hours from apprehension, excluding the necessary transportation period to the nearest judge or court, which itself cannot exceed 12 hours.

Different rules can apply in collective-offence investigations, where the prosecutor may order written extensions under statutory conditions because of difficulties collecting evidence or the number of suspects.

Therefore, the phrase “first 24 hours” is particularly important in many individual fraud investigations, but counsel must verify whether special or extended custody rules apply to the particular case.

Does the 24-Hour Rule Mean the Foreigner Must Be Released After Exactly 24 Hours?

Not necessarily.

The applicable custody regime must first be identified.

There may also be time required for transfer to the competent judicial authority, and different statutory rules may apply in investigations involving multiple suspects.

The important point is that police cannot keep a person deprived of liberty indefinitely without legal authority.

The First Hours: Identity and Investigation Checks

After apprehension or arrival at the police station, authorities may perform basic procedural checks.

These may concern:

• Identity
• Passport
• Residence information
• Address
• Telephone number
• Employment
• Immigration status

Authorities may also determine whether there are other judicial measures or investigations concerning the individual.

Providing identity information should not be confused with giving a detailed substantive statement about the alleged offence.

The Foreigner Should Learn the Exact Allegation

Before giving a detailed statement, the suspect should understand the essence of the accusation.

Important questions include:

• What transaction is being investigated?
• What date did it occur?
• What amount is involved?
• Who is the complainant?
• Which bank account is involved?
• Which telephone number is involved?
• Which online account is involved?
• What conduct is attributed personally to the foreigner?

A vague allegation such as “internet fraud” may cover several entirely different factual scenarios.

Example: Money Entered the Foreigner’s Bank Account

A common online-fraud investigation begins because stolen or fraudulently obtained money entered a bank account belonging to the foreign suspect.

That fact can be highly relevant.

But it does not by itself answer all questions concerning criminal responsibility.

Investigators may need to establish:

• Why the money entered the account
• Whether the foreigner expected it
• Who controlled the account
• Whether the money was withdrawn
• Whether it was transferred elsewhere
• Who benefited
• Whether the foreigner communicated with the victim
• Whether another person used the account
• Whether the foreigner received a commission

The bank-account trail should therefore be reconstructed carefully.

“I Only Gave My IBAN” Can Become a Serious Issue

Some suspects state:

“I only gave my bank account to a friend.”

This can become a central issue in the investigation.

The prosecutor may examine whether the suspect:

• Knew why the account would be used
• Received compensation
• Repeatedly received suspicious transfers
• Immediately withdrew money
• Transferred funds to third parties
• Communicated with other suspects

The defense should avoid replacing evidence with speculation.

Do Not Invent an Explanation Under Pressure

A foreigner confronted unexpectedly with a bank transaction may feel pressure to explain immediately.

This can be dangerous if the person does not remember:

• The sender
• The transaction
• The date
• The payment purpose

Statements such as:

“Maybe my friend used my account.”

or

“I think that payment was for cryptocurrency.”

can create unnecessary inconsistencies if later bank records show something different.

It is generally safer to distinguish clearly between what the suspect knows and what the suspect does not remember.

Right to a Lawyer During the First Police Questioning

Access to counsel is one of the most important protections during the first 24 hours.

The Constitutional Court states that access to a lawyer should in principle be available from the suspect’s first police questioning. It connects this safeguard directly to effective protection of the right to silence and the privilege against self-incrimination.

The first police statement can materially influence how the rest of the investigation develops.

Why Is a Lawyer Particularly Important in Online-Fraud Cases?

Online-fraud investigations can combine several complex evidence types simultaneously:

• Bank evidence
• Digital evidence
• Telecom evidence
• Cryptocurrency evidence
• Social-media evidence
• IP evidence
• Device evidence

A suspect may not know which evidence investigators already possess.

Counsel can help prevent the foreigner from guessing about technical matters that should instead be verified through records.

Can the Foreigner Remain Silent?

A suspect has procedural protection against being compelled to incriminate themselves.

The right to silence is especially important where investigators present isolated screenshots, bank transfers or technical records without providing the complete context.

The Constitutional Court expressly links access to counsel at the initial police stage with protection of the rights to silence and against self-incrimination.

Whether to answer individual questions should be decided according to the circumstances and defense strategy.

Silence Is Not the Same as Providing False Information

A suspect should distinguish between exercising procedural rights and inventing facts.

Giving a false technical explanation about an IP address, bank transaction, cryptocurrency wallet or device can create additional credibility problems.

Where the suspect genuinely does not know or remember something, speculation should be avoided.

Foreigners Who Do Not Speak Turkish: Interpreter Rights

Language can become one of the most important issues during the first 24 hours.

Article 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code provides an interpretation framework for suspects, defendants, victims and witnesses who cannot adequately express themselves in Turkish. The judicial authorities maintain interpreter lists for this purpose; the Ankara Judicial Commission’s 2026 notice expressly cites Article 202 and describes interpretation during investigation and prosecution for persons who cannot adequately communicate in Turkish.

A foreign suspect should not pretend to understand Turkish simply to finish the procedure quickly.

Do Not Sign a Statement You Do Not Understand

Before signing a police statement, the foreigner should understand what the document says.

Problems can arise from:

• Incorrect translation
• Missing answers
• Incorrect dates
• Incorrect bank amounts
• Misunderstood questions
• Technical terminology
• Statements attributed inaccurately

The suspect should ensure that material errors are corrected before signing.

What Happens to the Foreigner’s Mobile Phone?

Online-fraud investigations frequently involve mobile phones.

Authorities may consider the phone relevant because it may contain:

• WhatsApp conversations
• Banking applications
• Cryptocurrency applications
• Emails
• SMS messages
• Social-media accounts
• Photographs
• Browser history
• Contacts
• Location information

The legality of physical seizure and the legality and scope of forensic examination should be analyzed according to the applicable criminal-procedure rules.

Physical Possession of the Phone Does Not Answer Every Legal Question

Police having physical possession of a phone does not automatically resolve the legal basis or scope of every possible digital examination.

Counsel should identify:

• Why was the phone seized?
• Which authority ordered the measure?
• What examination was authorized?
• What data was extracted?
• Was cloud information accessed?
• Was a forensic copy created?

Digital evidence can become decisive in online-fraud cases, so these questions should be documented early.

Should the Foreigner Delete Messages?

No.

Once an investigation exists or is reasonably anticipated, deleting potentially relevant messages can damage the defense and may destroy exculpatory evidence.

Do not:

• Factory-reset the phone
• Delete WhatsApp chats
• Delete emails
• Delete social-media accounts
• Destroy the SIM card
• Remotely wipe the device

The suspect’s own phone may contain the strongest evidence proving innocence.

Screenshots May Be Presented During Questioning

Police may show the suspect screenshots allegedly connecting them to fraud.

For example:

“Is this your WhatsApp account?”

“Did you send this message?”

“Is this your Instagram profile?”

The suspect should distinguish between recognizing a photograph or username and admitting authorship of a communication.

A screenshot may require separate examination of:

• Underlying number
• Account
• Original device
• Complete conversation
• Technical attribution

IP Address Evidence May Also Appear

Police may state that an IP address connects the foreigner to a fraudulent account.

But an IP address ordinarily identifies a technical internet connection rather than automatically proving which human being performed the disputed act.

The defense may need to investigate:

• Exact timestamp
• Time zone
• Dynamic IP assignment
• CGNAT
• Source port
• Shared Wi-Fi
• VPN
• Corporate networks

The first statement is not the ideal moment to invent a technical explanation without seeing the underlying records.

Police May Ask About Other Suspects

Online-fraud investigations often involve networks of individuals.

Questions may concern:

• Who provided the bank account?
• Who controlled the phone?
• Who withdrew the money?
• Who created the advertisement?
• Who operated the social-media account?
• Who received cryptocurrency?

A foreign suspect should identify people truthfully but should not speculate about another person’s role without factual knowledge.

Cryptocurrency Can Become Central Evidence

If fraud proceeds were converted into cryptocurrency, authorities may examine:

• Exchange-account records
• Wallet addresses
• Transaction hashes
• Deposit and withdrawal records
• Identity verification
• Bank transfers

The existence of a cryptocurrency transfer may establish movement of assets.

It does not automatically answer who controlled every wallet or what the suspect knew about the origin of the funds.

Bank Records May Be More Important Than the First Statement

In many fraud cases, objective banking evidence can reconstruct the money trail.

Defense counsel should consider obtaining:

• Account statements
• Transfer descriptions
• Sender details
• Recipient details
• Withdrawal records
• Card transactions
• Relevant communications

These records can support or contradict the accusation.

Preserve Exculpatory Evidence Immediately

The first 24 hours should not focus only on answering accusations.

The defense should identify evidence that supports the foreigner’s version.

This may include:

• Complete WhatsApp conversations
• Emails
• Contracts
• Invoices
• Bank records
• Travel records
• CCTV
• Work records
• Account-security alerts
• Cryptocurrency records

Digital evidence can disappear or be overwritten.

Example: Foreigner Was Abroad When Fraud Occurred

Suppose a fraudulent social-media message was sent from Turkey while the foreigner was demonstrably abroad.

Potentially relevant evidence could include:

• Passport records
• Flight records
• Hotel records
• Foreign bank-card transactions
• Location history
• CCTV

This does not automatically resolve account-control questions, but it may materially affect the investigation.

What Happens After the Police Statement?

Several outcomes are possible.

The suspect may:

• Be released
• Remain in custody while investigation continues
• Be taken to the prosecutor
• Face a request for judicial control
• Be referred to a judge with a request for pre-trial detention

The outcome depends on the evidence and applicable procedural conditions.

Does Going to the Prosecutor Mean the Foreigner Will Be Arrested?

No.

Referral to the prosecutor does not automatically mean pre-trial detention.

The prosecutor may decide that the suspect should be released or may seek another measure.

Where pre-trial detention is requested, the judicial decision belongs to the competent judge.

Foreign Nationality Does Not Automatically Mean Flight Risk

The fact that a suspect is not a Turkish citizen should not automatically be treated as proof that the person will flee.

Relevant individualized circumstances can include:

• Stable residence
• Employment
• Business activity
• Family ties
• Property
• Voluntary attendance
• Compliance with authorities

The Constitution requires detention to rest on legally recognized grounds and judicial decision rather than nationality alone.

Judicial Control May Be Considered

Instead of pre-trial detention, less restrictive judicial measures may be considered where statutory conditions are met.

Depending on the case, this can include restrictions affecting travel or other obligations.

A defense presentation should therefore address not only why detention is unnecessary but also why less restrictive measures would adequately address any identified procedural risk.

Does a Residence Permit Protect the Foreigner From Custody?

No.

A valid residence permit does not provide immunity from criminal investigation.

However, established lawful residence may be relevant when assessing the person’s ties and circumstances.

Can an Online-Fraud Investigation Affect Immigration Status?

Criminal proceedings and immigration proceedings are legally distinct.

A fraud accusation does not mean that every foreign suspect will automatically be deported.

However, depending on the nature and development of the case, separate immigration-law issues may arise.

These should be analyzed separately rather than assuming that police custody automatically equals deportation.

What Should Foreign Company Executives Do?

Foreign executives can become suspects because:

• Company account received money
• Employee used company phone
• Corporate email appeared in fraud
• Company IP address was identified
• Business account was compromised

Corporate position alone does not automatically establish personal criminal responsibility.

The investigation should identify:

• Who controlled the account
• Who authorized the transaction
• Who used the device
• Who communicated with the complainant
• Who benefited financially

Corporate records should be preserved immediately.

What If the Foreign Suspect Was Also a Victim?

This occurs frequently.

For example, a foreigner may have:

• Allowed a trusted person to use an account
• Had an account hacked
• Been deceived into forwarding funds
• Lost control of a social-media account
• Been manipulated into cryptocurrency transfers

Being deceived does not automatically eliminate every legal issue, but the foreigner’s own victimization may be highly relevant to knowledge and intent.

Objective evidence should be preserved.

What Not to Do During the First 24 Hours

A foreign suspect should generally avoid:

• Guessing about transactions
• Deleting messages
• Resetting devices
• Contacting the complainant aggressively
• Coordinating stories with other suspects
• Signing documents not understood
• Pretending to understand Turkish
• Inventing technical explanations

Early mistakes can become difficult to correct later.

First 24 Hours: Practical Defense Checklist

When a foreigner learns that they are accused of online fraud in Turkey:

1. Determine whether the person is a suspect, witness or victim.
2. Verify the police unit and investigation.
3. Determine whether the person is formally apprehended or free to leave.
4. Ask to understand the substance of the accusation.
5. Obtain legal assistance before substantive questioning where possible.
6. Request an interpreter if Turkish is insufficient.
7. Do not speculate about unknown transactions.
8. Do not delete digital evidence.
9. Preserve complete conversations.
10. Preserve bank records.
11. Preserve cryptocurrency records where relevant.
12. Preserve account-security notifications.
13. Record details concerning seized devices.
14. Identify whether screenshots are complete and authentic.
15. Identify the bank account receiving the alleged proceeds.
16. Determine who actually controlled the account.
17. Preserve evidence of the suspect’s location.
18. Identify witnesses who can explain legitimate transactions.
19. Prepare evidence concerning residence, employment and other stable ties if liberty measures become an issue.
20. Review the evidence before deciding on a detailed defense strategy.

2026 Current Legal Position

As of September 2026, the first hours of an online-fraud investigation remain governed by the fundamental safeguards of Turkish criminal procedure concerning liberty, questioning, defense and interpretation.

Police custody is not justified merely because an accusation has been made. Constitutional Court materials explaining the custody regime emphasize that custody must be necessary for the investigation and supported by indications suggesting the person committed the offence. The ordinary custody period is generally limited to 24 hours, excluding the necessary transportation period of no more than 12 hours, while different rules may apply to collective offences.

The Constitutional Court also continues to emphasize the importance of access to counsel from the first police questioning because early statements can influence the entire criminal process and legal assistance protects the rights to silence and against self-incrimination.

For foreign suspects, language protection remains equally important. Judicial authorities continue to implement Article 202 through official interpreter lists in 2026 for persons who cannot adequately communicate in Turkish.

In practical terms, the first 24 hours should be treated as an evidence-preservation and procedural-protection stage, not as a race to provide an explanation before the underlying records have been understood.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a foreigner be arrested immediately after an online-fraud complaint in Turkey?

Potentially, if the legal conditions for apprehension are satisfied. A complaint alone does not establish guilt, and deprivation of liberty must have a lawful basis.

2. How long can a foreigner be held in police custody?

Under the ordinary regime, custody generally cannot exceed 24 hours from apprehension, excluding the necessary transportation period to the nearest competent judge or court, which cannot exceed 12 hours. Different rules can apply in collective-offence cases.

3. Can the foreigner request a lawyer before giving a police statement?

Yes. Access to legal assistance is a central safeguard, and Constitutional Court jurisprudence emphasizes that it should in principle be available from the first police questioning.

4. What if the foreigner cannot speak Turkish?

Interpretation safeguards apply. A suspect who cannot adequately express themselves in Turkish should not give or sign a substantive statement without understanding the proceedings. Article 202 remains the statutory basis for interpretation in criminal proceedings.

5. Can police seize the foreigner’s mobile phone?

A phone may potentially be seized where the legal conditions for the relevant investigative measure are satisfied. The legal basis and scope of any subsequent forensic examination should be assessed separately.

6. Does money entering the foreigner’s bank account prove online fraud?

Not automatically. The investigation should establish knowledge, control, purpose, subsequent movement of the money, communications and other evidence relevant to the alleged offence.

7. Should the foreigner explain every suspicious transaction immediately?

The suspect should not invent explanations. Where the person genuinely does not remember a transaction, bank and communication records should be reviewed rather than guessed at during questioning.

8. Does being sent to the prosecutor mean the foreigner will be placed in pre-trial detention?

No. Referral to the prosecutor does not automatically result in pre-trial detention. A judicial detention order requires a decision by the competent judge under the applicable legal conditions.

9. Can a foreigner be detained simply because they may leave Turkey?

Foreign nationality by itself should not substitute for an individualized assessment of legally relevant risks. Residence, employment, family, voluntary attendance and other ties may be relevant.

10. What is the most important thing to do during the first 24 hours?

Understand the precise accusation, obtain legal and language assistance where necessary, preserve digital and financial evidence, avoid deleting information and do not make speculative statements about transactions or technical evidence that have not yet been reviewed.

Criminal Defense for Foreigners Accused of Online Fraud in Turkey

The first 24 hours of an online-fraud investigation can influence the entire criminal case.

A bank account, IP address, telephone number, screenshot or social-media profile may connect a foreigner technically to an investigation without necessarily proving that the foreigner knowingly committed the alleged fraud.

Fırat Fesih Kaya Law Office provides criminal-law assistance to foreign nationals, tourists, employees, executives, investors and foreign-owned companies accused of online and financial fraud in Turkey.

Lawyer Fırat Fesih Kaya assists foreign clients during police and prosecutor statements, custody procedures, seized-phone investigations, online banking and cryptocurrency cases, WhatsApp and social-media evidence, IP-address disputes, bank-account allegations, digital forensic examinations, judicial-control proceedings and requests for pre-trial detention.

Early intervention is particularly important because bank records, account-security information, complete conversations, CCTV and other exculpatory evidence may need to be identified and preserved immediately.

Phone: +90 312 434 22 22
Mobile: +90 532 769 22 22
Email: info@firatfesihkaya.av.tr
Address: Mevlana Boulevard No:221, Yıldırım Tower No:148, 06520 Balgat, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey

This publication is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. The applicable procedure depends on the alleged offence, evidence, number of suspects, procedural status, custody decision and circumstances of the individual investigation.