Marketplace Fraud in Turkey: Criminal Remedies for Foreign Buyers and Sellers — 2026

Victim of marketplace fraud in Turkey? Learn how foreign buyers and sellers can preserve advertisements, messages, payment records and delivery evidence, file a criminal complaint, trace stolen money and respond to fake payment, account takeover and money-mule schemes in 2026.

Online marketplaces have made it easier for foreigners in Turkey to buy and sell phones, computers, furniture, vehicles, spare parts, luxury goods and other second-hand products. The same platforms, however, can also be used to initiate sophisticated fraud.

A foreign buyer may pay for a product that never existed. A foreign seller may receive a fake payment confirmation and hand over valuable property without receiving money. A fraudster may send a counterfeit “secure payment” link, hijack a legitimate marketplace account, impersonate a buyer or seller, or direct payment into a third person’s bank account.

Turkey’s Ministry of Justice warns that internet-shopping fraud can involve completely different goods being delivered, unusually cheap products being used as bait and banking information being stolen through unreliable websites.

Current judicial warnings also specifically identify internet-shopping fraud as a context in which fake advertisements and third-party bank accounts can be used to receive victims’ money.

For foreign buyers and sellers, the essential response is:

Preserve the marketplace evidence → preserve communications → verify the actual payment → identify the financial trail → file a structured criminal complaint → pursue recovery where possible.

What Is Marketplace Fraud?

Marketplace fraud generally occurs when an online buying or selling transaction is used as the vehicle for intentional deception.

A typical buyer-side scheme may involve:

Fake advertisement → Seller contact → Fake secure-payment link → Bank transfer → Seller disappears.

A seller-side scheme may involve:

Genuine advertisement → Fake buyer → Fake payment confirmation → Product released → Seller discovers no money arrived.

More sophisticated schemes can involve several participants:

Fraud organizer → Marketplace account → WhatsApp contact → Money-mule account → Cash withdrawal or cryptocurrency transfer.

The criminal investigation should reconstruct the complete chain.

Not Every Marketplace Dispute Is Criminal Fraud

This distinction is fundamental.

Suppose a genuine seller ships a used laptop and the buyer later claims that its battery condition was worse than expected.

That may involve a consumer, contractual or evidentiary dispute.

Now consider a seller who:

• Advertises a product they never possessed
• Uses stolen photographs
• Gives a false identity
• Sends a fake payment page
• Directs money into a rented account
• Blocks the buyer immediately after payment

That presents a very different evidentiary picture.

Turkey’s Ministry of Justice explains that fraud depends on deceptive conduct causing the victim to act and creating an unjust benefit; victims can also pursue compensation for losses caused by fraud.

Marketplace Fraud Against Foreign Buyers

Foreign buyers can be targeted because they may be unfamiliar with local platforms, payment methods or normal market prices.

A fraudster may offer:

• Mobile phones
• Laptops
• Gaming consoles
• Vehicle parts
• Furniture
• Appliances
• Luxury goods
• Rental accommodation
• Holiday properties
• Commercial equipment

Official judicial warnings concerning account-rental schemes specifically identify fake advertisements for phones, computers, televisions, vehicle parts, holiday accommodation and other products as methods used to obtain victims’ payments.

Marketplace Fraud Against Foreign Sellers

Foreign sellers face different risks.

A seller may genuinely own the product but be deceived by someone pretending to be a buyer.

Common methods include:

• Fake bank-transfer receipt
• Fake marketplace payment notification
• Fake escrow message
• Fraudulent courier collection
• Overpayment scam
• Fake refund request
• Account takeover
• Third-party pickup
• False chargeback story
• Fake customer-service message

Sellers should therefore preserve both the marketplace conversation and independent evidence of whether payment actually reached the account.

Fake “Secure Payment” Links

One of the most important marketplace risks is the supposed secure-payment link.

The fraudster says:

“For your protection, use the marketplace’s secure payment system.”

The link appears to belong to the platform.

But it may lead to a fraudulent website.

Current Turkish judicial guidance specifically warns consumers not to send online-shopping payments through “secure payment” links supplied by marketplace sellers when those links lead to personal bank accounts.

Preserve the exact link.

Do not preserve only a screenshot showing the marketplace logo.

Fake Payment Links Can Target Sellers Too

A fake buyer may tell a foreign seller:

“I already paid. Click here to receive your money.”

The link then asks the seller to enter:

• Card details
• Online banking information
• Password
• SMS verification code
• Personal identification information

The seller may believe they are receiving payment when they are actually disclosing credentials.

If this occurs, contact the relevant financial institution through its genuine channel and preserve the fraudulent link and communications.

Fake Bank Transfer Receipts

A foreign seller advertises a laptop for TRY 90,000.

The buyer sends a screenshot:

“Payment completed.”

The seller hands over the laptop.

No money arrives.

A screenshot of a bank-transfer receipt should not be treated as proof that money has actually reached the seller’s account.

The seller should verify the transaction independently through their own banking channel.

Preserve the Original Marketplace Advertisement

The advertisement can establish what was represented before the transaction.

Preserve:

• Product title
• Description
• Price
• Photographs
• Seller username
• Advertisement number
• Platform
• Claimed location
• Date
• Delivery terms
• Payment terms

Do this before confronting the suspected fraudster where possible.

The advertisement may disappear.

Preserve the Marketplace Profile

Record available identifiers such as:

• Username
• Displayed name
• Profile photograph
• Seller rating
• Previous advertisements
• Account age if displayed
• Contact information
• Business information

But remember:

Marketplace profile name ≠ verified real identity automatically.

An account may use a false identity or may itself have been compromised.

Preserve the Entire Marketplace Conversation

Do not save only:

“Send the money here.”

The earlier conversation may establish the deception.

For example:

Buyer: “Do you actually have the phone?”

Seller: “Yes, it is sealed and available.”

Buyer: “Can I collect it?”

Seller: “No, only courier delivery.”

Seller: “Use this secure-payment link.”

Seller: “The first payment failed. Send it again.”

The full conversation provides context.

Preserve Communications After Moving Off the Platform

Fraudsters often attempt to move communication quickly to:

• WhatsApp
• Telegram
• SMS
• Telephone
• Email

Preserve the transition.

A useful evidence chain may be:

Marketplace advertisement → Platform messages → WhatsApp → Payment link → Bank transfer → Seller disappears.

Why Fraudsters Move Victims Off the Marketplace

Moving communication outside the platform can make the transaction harder for the marketplace to monitor and can expose the victim to fraudulent links or payment instructions.

However, merely moving a conversation to WhatsApp does not prove fraud.

It is one fact that should be assessed together with the rest of the evidence.

Preserve Voice Messages

If the buyer or seller sent voice messages, preserve the originals where possible.

A voice message may contain important representations such as:

“The product exists.”

“I am the registered owner.”

“The money is protected.”

“This is the platform’s official account.”

“Your payment will automatically be refunded.”

Do not rely only on your recollection.

Preserve Product Photographs

Fraudsters may use photographs copied from legitimate advertisements.

Preserve all images supplied by the suspected seller.

If identical photographs appear elsewhere, that may become an investigative lead, but duplication alone should not be treated as definitive proof of who created the fraudulent listing.

What If the Marketplace Account Was Hacked?

A genuine seller’s established account may be compromised.

The fraudster then benefits from:

• Positive reviews
• Account history
• Genuine previous sales
• Existing reputation

Accordingly:

Marketplace account ownership ≠ automatic authorship of fraudulent messages.

Platform-access evidence and surrounding digital records may become relevant.

Preserve the Exact Payment Instructions

If the fraudster supplies an IBAN, record:

• Recipient name
• Complete IBAN
• Bank
• Amount requested
• Currency
• Payment description requested
• Date
• Time

If several accounts are supplied, preserve all of them.

Multiple IBANs Can Be Important

For example:

First payment → Account A

Cargo payment → Account B

Refund fee → Account C

Different accounts may reveal a larger fraud structure.

Do not assume only the first account matters.

The Receiving Account Owner May Not Be the Marketplace Fraudster

This is one of the most important issues in online fraud investigations.

A victim may send money to Person A while communicating with a marketplace profile controlled by Person B.

The financial structure may be:

Fraudster → Foreign buyer → Money-mule account → Another account → Cash withdrawal.

Official Turkish judicial warnings explain that fraudsters recruit people to provide bank accounts, digital banking credentials and GSM lines, sometimes in return for money.

The criminal investigation should therefore determine both ownership and actual control.

Can the Account Holder Be Prosecuted?

Potentially, depending on the evidence concerning that person’s knowledge, intent and conduct.

Important questions can include:

Why was the account supplied?

Who controlled mobile banking?

Was a commission received?

Who transferred the victim’s money onward?

Who withdrew it?

Were multiple unrelated victims sending money to the same account?

Account ownership is an important evidentiary fact, but criminal responsibility should be determined individually.

Fake Jobs Can Supply Accounts for Marketplace Fraud

A person may believe they are accepting a job:

“Receive customer payments and transfer them to our company.”

Their account is then used to receive payments from fake marketplace advertisements.

Official judicial guidance identifies fake work-from-home schemes and “receive and forward payment” arrangements as methods through which bank accounts can become involved in fraud.

This is why investigators should examine recruitment communications rather than assuming every account holder played the same role.

What If the Foreign Buyer Receives Nothing?

Preserve:

• Promised delivery date
• Courier information
• Tracking number
• Seller excuses
• Refund requests
• Subsequent payment demands

Failure to deliver alone does not automatically prove fraud.

Evidence showing deception from the beginning can be particularly important.

What If the Buyer Receives a Different Product?

Do not throw it away immediately.

Preserve:

• Package
• Shipping label
• Sender information
• Tracking number
• Contents
• Invoice
• Serial number
• Photographs
• Video of opening where available

The Ministry of Justice specifically recognizes online-shopping schemes involving a different product being delivered from the one advertised.

What If the Package Is Empty?

Document the condition of the package carefully.

Preserve the shipping label and packaging.

If the package was damaged or opened before delivery, that fact can create additional factual issues concerning when the contents disappeared.

Avoid making unsupported accusations against the seller or courier before the evidence is examined.

Marketplace Vehicle Fraud

High-value marketplace fraud can involve:

• Cars
• Motorcycles
• Commercial vehicles
• Vehicle parts

A fraudster may request a reservation payment before inspection.

For substantial transactions, preserve:

• Advertisement
• Vehicle information
• Registration information supplied
• Seller identity claims
• Deposit request
• Bank transfer
• Inspection arrangements

Do not assume that a photograph of a registration document proves the sender owns the vehicle.

Marketplace Rental Fraud

Marketplace platforms can also be used for fake:

• Apartment rentals
• Holiday homes
• Villas
• Bungalows
• Short-term accommodation

The fraudster may demand:

Reservation fee + deposit + first month’s rent.

After payment, the advertisement disappears.

Current judicial warnings specifically identify fake holiday accommodation and bungalow advertisements among common online-shopping fraud patterns.

Fraud Against Sellers Through Courier Collection

A fake buyer may arrange for another person to collect the product.

The seller receives what appears to be proof of payment.

The collector takes the product.

Later, the seller discovers the payment never existed.

Preserve:

• Pickup time
• Pickup location
• Person collecting
• Vehicle information if lawfully available
• Building or store surveillance footage
• Courier records
• Communications

If surveillance footage may be relevant, preservation should be considered promptly because retention periods vary.

Fake Courier Messages

A fraudster may send:

“Your buyer paid. Pay TRY 2,000 courier insurance to release the funds.”

The seller then loses both the product opportunity and additional money.

Never assume a courier request is genuine merely because the message contains a known company’s logo.

Fake Customer-Service Accounts

A marketplace fraudster may create a social-media or messaging account that looks like the platform’s customer service.

The victim is told:

“Your payment is frozen.”

“Pay a verification charge.”

“Send your card details.”

Preserve the account and independently verify whether it actually belongs to the platform.

Do Not Keep Paying to Recover the First Payment

One of the most damaging patterns is repeated payment.

For example:

Product: TRY 60,000

Cargo insurance: TRY 5,000

Refund activation: TRY 10,000

Tax: TRY 7,500

Account release fee: TRY 12,000

The victim may ultimately lose far more than the advertised price.

Stop and verify before sending additional funds.

How Can Foreign Victims File a Criminal Complaint?

Turkey’s Ministry of Justice states that a person seeking investigation of suspected criminal conduct may apply to the public prosecutor, police or gendarmerie. The offender does not have to be known before the complaint is filed.

This is particularly important in marketplace cases because the victim may know only:

• Username
• Telephone number
• IBAN
• Website
• Advertisement

The real identity can become part of the investigation.

How Should the Complaint Be Structured?

Do not submit hundreds of screenshots without explanation.

Prepare a chronology.

For example:

August 4: Foreign buyer sees advertisement.

August 4: Marketplace conversation begins.

August 5: Seller moves communication to WhatsApp.

August 5: Seller provides secure-payment link.

August 5: Buyer sends TRY 85,000.

August 6: Seller requests additional cargo payment.

August 6: Buyer refuses.

August 6: Seller blocks buyer.

August 7: Advertisement disappears.

This makes the alleged deception easier to understand.

Prepare an Evidence Index

A practical evidence file might contain:

Evidence 1: Marketplace advertisement

Evidence 2: Seller or buyer profile

Evidence 3: Marketplace messages

Evidence 4: WhatsApp messages

Evidence 5: Telephone number

Evidence 6: Fake secure-payment page

Evidence 7: Bank-transfer receipt

Evidence 8: Recipient IBAN

Evidence 9: Cargo information

Evidence 10: Product or packaging

Evidence 11: Additional payment demands

Evidence 12: Marketplace complaint record

Can Prosecutors Trace the Money?

Potentially.

The transaction may look like:

Foreign buyer → Account A → Account B → Account C

or:

Foreign buyer → Account A → ATM withdrawal

or:

Foreign buyer → Account A → Crypto-asset service provider

The investigation should follow subsequent movements rather than unnecessarily stopping at the first recipient.

2026 Account Suspension and Seizure Rules Can Matter

The current Criminal Procedure Code includes Article 128/A, addressing qualifying accounts at banks, payment service providers and crypto-asset service providers in specified technology-related criminal investigations.

Importantly, the provision addresses situations where suspected proceeds are transferred to another financial institution before the initial suspension process is completed. It also permits seizure under the statutory conditions and provides that seized proceeds are returned during the investigation or prosecution where they are determined to belong to the injured victim.

This does not guarantee recovery.

But it reinforces why rapid reporting can matter when marketplace-fraud proceeds are moving between accounts.

Can the Victim Recover Money From the Fraudster?

Potentially.

The Ministry of Justice states that victims can claim material and moral losses caused by fraud from the perpetrator through civil proceedings.

The appropriate recovery strategy can depend on:

• Whether proceeds were secured
• Whether suspects are identified
• Whether other assets exist
• Whether civil proceedings are appropriate
• Payment method
• Role of other parties

A criminal complaint and a complete compensation strategy are not necessarily the same process.

Can the Foreign Seller Recover the Product?

This depends on where the product went and whether it remains identifiable.

Preserve:

• Serial number
• IMEI where applicable
• Invoice
• Unique identifying marks
• Photographs
• Ownership records

For high-value products, precise identification can be extremely important.

What If a Phone Was Fraudulently Purchased?

Preserve the IMEI and purchase documents where available.

A generic description such as:

“Black smartphone”

is far less useful than specific device information.

What If a Laptop or Computer Was Taken?

Preserve:

• Serial number
• Model
• Invoice
• Photographs
• Device identifiers available to you

Do not attempt unauthorized digital access to another person’s account or device in an effort to recover property.

What If the Marketplace Platform Has Evidence?

The platform may potentially hold relevant records concerning:

• Account registration
• Advertisement
• Messages
• Account-access activity
• Complaint history

Availability, retention and lawful disclosure depend on the platform and applicable legal process.

Victims should preserve everything visible from their own account promptly.

What If the Platform Is Foreign?

A foreign marketplace does not automatically prevent investigation.

However, obtaining platform-held evidence may require different procedures depending on the company’s location, data structure and applicable international cooperation mechanisms.

The victim should still preserve locally available evidence.

Foreign Buyer or Seller Abroad After the Fraud

A foreign victim may leave Turkey before the investigation concludes.

That does not automatically eliminate the possibility of pursuing a case with Turkish connections.

The procedural route depends on the circumstances, including the location of:

• Recipient accounts
• Suspects
• Marketplace activity
• Goods
• Evidence
• Assets

Representation may be considered according to the requirements of the individual matter.

Preserve Foreign-Language Messages in Original Form

Do not replace English, Arabic, Russian, Persian, French or other communications with translations.

Preserve the originals.

Translations can be prepared where necessary.

This is particularly important where wording such as:

“payment received”

or

“payment pending”

is disputed.

Do Not Fabricate Missing Evidence

If the advertisement disappeared before you captured it, say so.

Do not recreate it and present the reconstruction as an original screenshot.

Similarly, never:

• Alter messages
• Edit bank receipts
• Change timestamps
• Create false conversations
• Fabricate delivery records

Evidence credibility matters.

What If the Marketplace Transaction Was Genuine but the Buyer Lies?

Sellers can also face false fraud allegations.

A buyer may claim:

“Nothing arrived.”

while the seller possesses evidence of delivery.

Foreign sellers accused of marketplace fraud should preserve:

• Original advertisement
• Buyer communications
• Payment record
• Invoice
• Shipment record
• Tracking information
• Delivery confirmation
• Product photographs
• Serial number

The existence of a complaint does not itself establish that the seller committed fraud.

False Chargeback or Refund Claims

A buyer may receive the goods and later attempt to reverse payment by alleging non-delivery.

This can involve a different evidentiary dispute.

Preserve delivery and transaction records.

Do not respond by fabricating evidence or threatening the buyer.

Can a Marketplace Seller Become a Criminal Suspect Because Money Entered Their Account?

Potentially, depending on the complaint and evidence.

But receiving money is not automatically proof of fraudulent intent.

A genuine seller should preserve evidence showing:

• Genuine advertisement
• Ownership of product
• Negotiations
• Delivery
• Invoice
• Shipment
• Refund attempts where applicable

This can help distinguish genuine commerce from intentional deception.

2026 Enforcement Environment

Online and technology-assisted fraud remains a substantial enforcement issue in Turkey in 2026.

In June 2026, the Ministry of Justice reported judicial action against suspects in an operation involving, among other allegations, fake advertisements used to victimize individuals.

Judicial authorities are also actively warning about rented bank accounts used in internet-shopping fraud, fake secure-payment links and other digital schemes.

Turkey’s current criminal-procedure framework additionally provides mechanisms under Article 128/A for rapidly moving suspected proceeds in qualifying technology-related cases, including onward transfers between financial institutions and potential return of seized proceeds where they are established to belong to the victim.

For foreign buyers and sellers, the practical lesson in 2026 is:

Preserve the platform → preserve the messages → preserve the payment or delivery evidence → identify the bank account → follow the financial or property trail → distinguish the actual fraudster from intermediaries → pursue criminal and recovery remedies promptly.

First 24 Hours After Marketplace Fraud: 20-Step Checklist

1. Stop additional payments.
2. Preserve the advertisement.
3. Preserve the buyer or seller profile.
4. Preserve complete marketplace messages.
5. Preserve WhatsApp or Telegram conversations.
6. Record all telephone numbers.
7. Preserve voice messages.
8. Preserve the exact payment link.
9. Screenshot any fake payment website.
10. Preserve the bank-transfer receipt.
11. Verify whether payment actually reached your account.
12. Record every recipient IBAN.
13. Contact the relevant bank through an official channel.
14. Preserve shipment and courier records.
15. Preserve the product or package where relevant.
16. Record serial numbers or unique identifiers.
17. Prepare a chronological timeline.
18. Prepare an evidence index.
19. Consider prompt criminal reporting and asset tracing.
20. Preserve every platform, bank and courier complaint reference.

15 Questions a Marketplace Fraud Complaint Should Answer

1. Which marketplace was used?

Identify the platform precisely.

2. What product was advertised?

Preserve the description and photographs.

3. Was the complainant the buyer or seller?

The fraud structure may differ significantly.

4. What profile was used?

Preserve all available identifiers.

5. Did communication move outside the marketplace?

Record when and why.

6. Was a secure-payment link supplied?

Preserve the exact link.

7. How was payment supposedly made?

Bank transfer, card, platform payment or another method?

8. Did money actually arrive?

For sellers, independently verify the account.

9. Which IBAN received the buyer’s payment?

Record complete information.

10. Were additional payments requested?

Cargo, insurance, refund, tax or verification?

11. Was the product delivered or collected?

Preserve physical-transfer evidence.

12. Who collected the product?

This may differ from the marketplace account holder.

13. Did the marketplace account disappear?

Record the timing.

14. Were other victims connected to the same account or IBAN?

A repeated pattern may be significant.

15. Where did the money or property ultimately go?

This question can be central to recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a foreign buyer report marketplace fraud in Turkey?

Yes. A victim can report suspected criminal conduct even if the real identity of the alleged offender is not yet known. Turkey’s Ministry of Justice confirms that complaints may be made to prosecutors or law-enforcement authorities without first identifying the offender.

2. Can a foreign seller also be a marketplace-fraud victim?

Yes. Sellers can be targeted through fake payment receipts, fraudulent secure-payment links, fake courier arrangements, account takeover and other deceptive methods.

3. Is a fake bank-transfer screenshot enough to prove payment?

No. Sellers should verify whether money actually reached their own account rather than relying solely on a screenshot supplied by the buyer.

4. I voluntarily sent money to the seller. Can it still be fraud?

Potentially. A payment can be voluntarily made because the victim was intentionally deceived. The representations and surrounding evidence must be examined.

5. Is the owner of the receiving IBAN automatically the marketplace fraudster?

No. The account is an important investigative lead, but ownership does not automatically prove who created the advertisement or communicated with the victim. The account holder’s knowledge, control and conduct must be examined.

6. Can money transferred through several accounts still be investigated?

Potentially. Current criminal procedure specifically addresses onward movement of qualifying suspected proceeds between financial institutions.

7. Can money secured during the investigation be returned to the victim?

Article 128/A provides for return of seized proceeds where they are determined to belong to the injured victim, subject to the statutory and factual requirements of the individual case.

8. What if the marketplace seller sends a different product?

Preserve the product, packaging, shipping label, advertisement and communications. A different-product scheme is expressly recognized in official Ministry of Justice fraud guidance.

9. Can a genuine seller defend against a false fraud complaint?

Yes. A genuine seller should preserve evidence of the advertisement, ownership, communications, shipment, delivery, invoices and payment history. A complaint alone does not establish guilt.

10. What should a foreign marketplace victim do immediately?

Preserve the platform evidence, stop additional payments, document the transaction or product transfer, record all bank and contact information, notify the relevant bank where appropriate and consider prompt criminal reporting and recovery measures.

Legal Assistance for Foreign Buyers and Sellers Affected by Marketplace Fraud in Turkey

Marketplace fraud can involve far more than a fake advertisement.

A complete case may require analysis of marketplace accounts, WhatsApp or Telegram messages, fake secure-payment websites, bank-transfer records, money-mule accounts, courier records, surveillance footage, product serial numbers, cryptocurrency transactions and the subsequent movement of money or property.

For a foreign buyer, the central questions may be:

Did the product actually exist? Who controlled the seller profile? Which account received the payment? Who controlled that account? Where did the money move afterward?

For a foreign seller, the questions may instead be:

Was payment genuinely made? Who collected the product? Was the buyer account authentic? What delivery or ownership evidence exists? Where can the property now be traced?

Fırat Fesih Kaya Law Office provides legal assistance to foreign buyers, sellers, residents, tourists, students, employees, investors and international business owners affected by marketplace and online fraud connected with Turkey.

Lawyer Fırat Fesih Kaya assists foreign clients with criminal complaints, prosecutor proceedings, preservation of marketplace evidence, fake payment links, suspicious bank transfers, money-mule accounts, product tracing, digital evidence and legal strategies concerning recovery of identifiable money or property.

Early intervention can be particularly important because advertisements and accounts may disappear, surveillance recordings may be overwritten, products may be resold and fraud proceeds may move through multiple financial accounts within a short period.

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. Whether a marketplace dispute constitutes criminal fraud, who may bear criminal responsibility and which recovery mechanisms are available depend on the specific representations, evidence, payment method, delivery history, transaction chain and applicable law in each case.