AI-Generated Deepfakes Used in Investment Scam Ring in Turkey
A criminal network in Turkey used AI-generated deepfakes of celebrities to create fraudulent investment advice advertisements on social media, defrauding victims of millions of Turkish lira. Turkish gendarmerie arrested four suspects on February 17, 2026, after a victim reported losing money to the scheme.
What happened
Four suspects used AI to create deepfakes of celebrities' faces and voices to generate fraudulent investment advice advertisements on social media. A 72-year-old victim saw the fake advertisements, believed they were legitimate investment tips from well-known public figures, and sent 882,000 Turkish lira to accounts controlled by the suspects through fake platforms.
On February 17, 2026, the Turkish Gendarmerie Cyber Crimes Division conducted simultaneous operations at four addresses in Istanbul, Ankara, Adana and Antalya. The suspects identified as C.V. (36), M.Y. (56), M.C.A. (28) and S.T. (71) were arrested, and four mobile phones used in the crime were seized.
Reported impact
Bank records and cryptocurrency platform transactions from one month showed approximately 20 million Turkish lira in account movement connected to the four suspects. A single victim reported losing 882,000 Turkish lira to the scheme.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.