Turkish Authorities Dismantle Massive Citizenship Fraud Scheme Involving 1198 Fake Applications

Why You Should Never Rely on Illegal Methods to Obtain Turkish Citizenship by Investment

In September 2025, Turkish authorities uncovered a large-scale operation involving organized criminals who illegally secured Turkish citizenship for nearly 1,200 foreign nationals. This fraud was carried out through fake property sales and fictitious financial transactions. The scheme caused a staggering loss of 181.2 million dollars in potential foreign currency inflow to Türkiye’s economy.

At Bayraktar Attorneys, we want to raise awareness among foreign investors considering Turkish citizenship by investment. We strongly advise against using any shortcuts, brokers, or unauthorized channels in this process. Citizenship is a legal privilege that must be earned transparently, not purchased through corruption.

A Sophisticated Network of Citizenship Fraud

Following complaints received through the Presidential Communications Center (CİMER), the Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched a wide-reaching investigation. The findings were alarming. The suspects prepared inflated real estate valuation reports and conducted sham property sales that only existed on paper. Foreign applicants were tricked into believing they were buying property worth 400,000 USD, the threshold required for citizenship.

These fraudulent transactions involved:

• Fake foreign currency transfers with no real capital entering Türkiye

• Property sales to foreigners that were secretly reversed

• Promissory notes signed by applicants to guarantee the return of the property to its original owner or the criminal network

Internally, the method was referred to as “BABATAK” by the fraudsters. It was a code name for an illegal loop that allowed the same property to be reused repeatedly for different citizenship applications.

The Financial and Legal Damage

According to the MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) report:

• 1. main applicants and their families (totaling 1198 people) were granted citizenship fraudulently

• Each applicant paid around 50,000 USD for this illegal service

• The total loss of real foreign currency to Türkiye was over 181 million USD

• 1. people were identified as suspects, including:
  2. ringleader
  3. organizers
  4. criminal network members
  5. real estate agents
  6. of these suspects have already been arrested in simultaneous raids across 19 provinces

All individuals who gained Turkish citizenship through these illegal methods will have their nationality revoked under Article 31 of the Turkish Citizenship Law (Law No. 5901).

If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is

We regularly hear from clients who have been approached by self-declared "consultants" or "brokers" claiming to offer guaranteed citizenship within a few weeks. Often, they offer suspiciously low prices or ask for payments in cash without documentation. These schemes may include:

• Fake or recycled property sales

• Inflated valuation reports

• Illegal money-back guarantees after citizenship is granted

These actions may seem tempting but they are criminal offenses under Turkish law. Even if a person is unaware of the fraud at the time, they can still be prosecuted and lose their Turkish citizenship once the scheme is discovered.

Bayraktar Attorneys Ensures 100% Legal Compliance

As a law firm based in Istanbul, we have successfully guided hundreds of international clients through the Turkish citizenship by investment process. Our services are built on full transparency and legal compliance.

We ensure:

• You purchase a legitimate propertythat meets citizenship conditions

• The real value is confirmedby an approved appraiser

• Foreign currency is brought into Türkiye through legal banking channels

• Your investment is protectedby valid annotations on the title deed

• We supervise the entire application processfrom start to finish, ensuring compliance with Turkish Immigration, Banking, and Property Laws

We do not collaborate with unlicensed real estate agents or offer any hidden deals. Our firm works strictly according to Turkish law to protect your investment and your future in Türkiye.

Think Long-Term, Not Short-Term

Quick, illegal solutions might seem attractive in the short term. But they put everything at risk. The authorities are now actively cross-checking all previous citizenship applications. If your file includes:

• A suspicious valuation report

• No actual foreign currency inflow

• A sale that was later reversed

It may be flagged for investigation, and you may lose your citizenship, face deportation, or be blacklisted from entering Türkiye again.

Schedule a Legal Consultation With Our Experts

If you have already purchased property or are in the process of applying for Turkish citizenship, we offer professional review services to verify the legitimacy of your application.

We invite you to contact our team for:

• A detailed legal review of your citizenship application

• Advice on avoiding high-risk transactions

• Legal solutions if you suspect you were misled

📍 Bayraktar Attorneys
Kolektif House, Esentepe, Talatpaşa Cad No:5/1, 34394 Şişli/İstanbul
📞 +90 539 935 2875
🌐 www.bayraktarattys.com
📩 [email protected]