The Turkish authorities have busted a criminal organisation based in Izmir, which is alleged to have defrauded insurance companies of approximately TRY200m ($4.3m) through fake traffic accidents.
The criminal organisation operated in five provinces, with a lawyer among the ringleaders, according to media reports.
Teams from the Financial Crimes Investigation Branch of the Izmir Provincial Police Department, under the coordination of the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, launched an investigation into the racket. Simultaneous police operations were conducted yesterday in Izmir, Istanbul, Ankara, Agri and Antalya.
A total of 240 suspects have been identified in the case, with arrest warrants issued for at least 62 individuals so far whose involvement in the fraud has been confirmed. Efforts to apprehend suspects are reportedly ongoing.
The investigation reveals that the criminals staged accidents in areas without cameras, positioned the vehicles as if they had been in accidents, took photographs, prepared accident reports, had the vehicles towed to repair shops, and then filed claims with insurance companies. In some cases where insurers failed to make payments for the claims, attempts were made to collect compensation through arbitration, court, and enforcement processes.