How to Report Cybercrime in Turkey (and Get Your Money Back)

Quick answer: If you have just been scammed or hacked in Turkey, call the police on 155 (Jandarma 156 in rural areas, general emergency 112) and file a formal complaint. You can also lodge a complaint through CIMER, the Presidential Communication Center, at cimer.gov.tr or by phone on 150, and report technical incidents to USOM/TR-CERT at usom.gov.tr. Most importantly, call your bank right now and ask them to freeze the account and recall the transfer. Refund reality: there is no guarantee of getting money back, but a recall attempted within minutes or hours, before the fraudsters move the funds onward, gives you the best chance.

What to do in 3 steps

1. Call your bank immediately. Phone the number on the back of your card or your bank's fraud line, report the fraud, and ask them to freeze the account and attempt to recall or reverse the transfer. Speed is everything; every minute counts before the money is moved on.
2. Report to the police. Call 155 (or 156 for the Jandarma in rural districts, or 112) and file a formal criminal complaint (suc duyurusu) so the Cyber Crime Department (Siber Suclarla Mucadele) can investigate. You can also use the Emniyet Genel Mudurlugu online services at egm.gov.tr.
3. Lodge a written complaint and report the incident. Submit a complaint via CIMER at cimer.gov.tr (or call 150), and report phishing sites, malware or technical incidents to USOM/TR-CERT at usom.gov.tr.

How recovery actually works

When you report a fraudulent transfer, your bank can ask the receiving bank to freeze the funds and return them. This only works if the money is still sitting in the destination account, so the first few hours are critical. The police complaint creates an official record that lets investigators and banks act on the receiving account, and prosecutors can order accounts frozen. Turkey's financial intelligence unit, MASAK, investigates the money trail and can support freezing suspicious accounts. None of this guarantees a refund: if the fraudster has already cashed out, layered the money through mule accounts, or converted it to crypto, the funds may be gone. Treat recovery as a race, document everything, and keep following up with both your bank and the police.

What to have ready

• Your ID (TC Kimlik No) and bank account or card details.
• The transaction date, time, amount, and the recipient's account number or IBAN.
• Any reference, transfer, or confirmation numbers from the payment.
• Screenshots of messages, emails, websites, ads, or social media used by the scammer.
• Phone numbers, usernames, or wallet addresses the fraudster used.
• A short written timeline of what happened, in order.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to report in person, or can I do it online?
You can start online or by phone. Call 155 to alert the police, file a complaint through CIMER at cimer.gov.tr or on 150, and use the Emniyet Genel Mudurlugu online services at egm.gov.tr. For a formal criminal complaint you may still be asked to give a statement at a police station or to the prosecutor's office (Cumhuriyet Savciligi).

Will I definitely get my money back?
No. There is no guarantee. Your best chance is acting within minutes or hours so your bank can recall the transfer before the funds are moved. Unauthorised transactions you never approved are more likely to be refunded than payments you made yourself after being deceived.

What is the difference between CIMER and USOM?
CIMER is the Presidential Communication Center for citizen complaints and requests, including reporting fraud and cybercrime to the relevant authorities. USOM/TR-CERT is Turkey's national cyber incident response center; use it to report phishing pages, malicious links, malware, and technical security incidents.

Sources

• CIMER - Presidential Communication Center (cimer.gov.tr), phone 150
• Emniyet Genel Mudurlugu (Turkish National Police), egm.gov.tr
• USOM / TR-CERT - National Cyber Incident Response Center (usom.gov.tr)
• Cyber Security Directorate (siberguvenlik.gov.tr)
• MASAK - Financial Crimes Investigation Board

For step-by-step reporting and recovery guides covering other countries, see our cybercrime help hub.