In this article
Updated 13 September 2026
Demands for money accompanied by “your residence permit is guaranteed,” “we can arrange a work permit without an employer,” or “we know someone at the authority” can create financial loss and legal risk for foreign nationals. A rejected application is not fraud by itself. By contrast, representing an application that was never made as submitted, presenting a forged official letter, or taking money on a deceptive promise for a procedure never intended to be performed may be subject to criminal investigation. 1, 21,2
A victim faces three separate issues: reporting suspected crime, recovering money paid, and regularizing their own residence or work status. Each may require a different process. This article explains which records to preserve immediately, what to describe in a complaint, and why suspected forged documents call for care.
Paying someone who guarantees an outcome
Residence and work permits are applications assessed by competent public authorities under the law. A consultant or intermediary may offer help with preparation but cannot guarantee an authority’s decision by a private undertaking. Even a genuine service agreement does not mean the application will be approved. The service scope, purpose of the fee, and identity of the applicant should be made clear.
Official guidance from the Presidency of Migration Management warns about fraudulent websites and documents in residence procedures. This does not mean every intermediary commits a crime. Yet the process should not be accepted as genuine solely on the basis of a message screenshot, a document bearing a logo, or a claim that “system approval has arrived.” The existence and result of an application should be checked through the relevant official channel. 2, 32,3
If the person handling the matter claims to be a lawyer, their bar registration and identity can be checked. A company’s trade-register entry does not mean its employees are lawyers or have power to issue permits. Asking before payment for a written service description, proof of fees, and contact details helps establish what was promised later.
Not every unsuccessful application is fraud
For fraud, the important questions are whether deceptive conduct misled the person and thereby caused loss and wrongful gain. Rejection on legal grounds of an application genuinely prepared and submitted differs from giving a false tracking number for an application never filed. In the former case, proper performance of the contract may be disputed; the latter calls for a different criminal-law assessment. 11
The initial promise, later explanations, and stated purpose of the payment must be considered together. For example, changing the description of money from a service fee to a “special payment for an official” is significant. Rather than make another payment accepting that account, preserve communications and assess the legal position. If an improper benefit to a public official is alleged, analysis should not stop at fraud.
A complainant does not have to identify the precise legal name of the offense. They should clearly describe what was said, what was paid, and what was done in return. Explaining the events that support the conclusion “I was defrauded” makes the evidence to be investigated concrete. Investigating authorities determine the legal classification.
Documents to preserve at the outset
Preserve the advertisement link, social media account, phone numbers, messages, bank receipts, documents delivered, and application numbers together. A screenshot of only the last argument may not show the initial promise. Preserve messages as far as possible in chronological order and with the whole conversation, showing sender and recipient details. Do not alter original documents.
For cash payments, note the date, place, currency, amount, and persons present. Lack of a receipt does not bar a report but may make payment harder to prove. If the bank recipient’s name differs from the claimed service provider’s name, explain that too. The account holder should not be pronounced guilty solely for receiving money before their involvement has been investigated.
If the other side holds the original passport, phone, or banking access details, include that in the report. Failure to return documents, demands for more money, or threats may need separate assessment. Gaining unauthorized access to the other party’s account, creating forged evidence, or indiscriminately publishing private conversations can create fresh legal problems.
Where and how to report a suspected crime
A suspected crime may be reported to the chief public prosecutor’s office or law enforcement. Under Article 158 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK), the report may be written or made orally for recording. A petition should give a timeline, known details of the parties, payment amounts, and evidence requested for investigation. Available documents should be submitted, and identification of unknown persons requested. 44
Anyone who does not sufficiently understand Turkish should state their need for an interpreter when reporting. Foreign nationality does not remove the right to complain. Conditions for appointment of a lawyer in criminal procedure, however, differ for victims and suspects. Unconditional free counsel cannot be promised to every fraud victim; the offense, personal circumstances, and applicable legal-aid options must be considered. 4, 54,5
Fraud investigations generally do not depend on a complaint. It is therefore wrong to apply a “six-month complaint period” to every case. Delay can still make tracing funds and obtaining recordings harder. Since another offense dependent on complaint may also be involved, the report should not be postponed. 11
Obtain the complaint reference and track later notifications. The remedy and period depend on the type of prosecutorial decision. Opening a file does not mean investigation is complete or the other person has been found guilty. Missing banking details or later messages can be submitted subsequently; clearly linking them to the case is useful.
Will a complaint get the money back?
A criminal investigation determines whether a crime was committed and who is responsible. Filing a complaint does not immediately return the paid amount to the account. Funds linked to crime may be traced and appropriate protective measures applied, but recovery can be difficult if the money has been spent or transferred to third parties. Prompt notice to the bank is useful but guarantees no result.
Claims based on contract, tort, or unjust enrichment may be available to recover money. Depending on the relationship, a civil action, enforcement proceeding, or another route may be assessed. Who is liable for what amount, what service was actually provided, and the purpose of payment all require separate review. Waiting for the criminal case is not always the only option. 66
If the other party pays part of the sum, document which debt it discharges. Signing an unexplained statement that “I waive all rights” can have consequences far broader than merely acknowledging receipt. Withdrawal of a fraud complaint also does not always end public prosecution. Payment may be assessed separately for effective remorse, but it does not mean no crime occurred. 11
Harm involving forged documents must be addressed separately
If a residence card, official letter, or other delivered document appears forged, continued use is inappropriate. The document type and whether the person knew it was forged matter for criminal liability. Forgery of an official document, forgery of a private document, and false statements when an official document is prepared are different offenses; not every incorrect document falls under the same provision. 11
A person who received a forged document believing it genuine is in a different position from one who knowingly used it. Still, “I did not know” must be assessed with the correspondence, payment terms, and manner of obtaining the document. Complaining against the maker does not mean that the user’s own conduct will not be investigated. 1, 71,7
Administrative consequences may differ from criminal liability. If a forged document was used in an application or eligibility was absent, refusal, cancellation, or other residence steps may follow. Records explaining how the person became a victim should be presented to the authority, while notified decisions and deadlines are tracked separately. Seeking another forged document as a replacement only makes matters worse. 8, 78,7
Do not neglect your own residence status
Payment to an intermediary does not extend residence or create a right to work. Making a criminal complaint does not itself replace a valid permit. A person should check the real status of the application, the expiry date of current documents, and available administrative applications at the same time. If it becomes clear that no application was made, pursuing only the money may overlook another significant problem. 2, 82,8
When seeking legal help, a foreign national should prepare their passport, current permit or protection document, notices, and payment records together. The aim is both to substantiate the alleged fraud and accurately establish personal legal status. Truthful explanation, official verification, and a timely application provide a firmer start than paying for another “guaranteed solution.”
Sources
Sources checked on 13 September 2026. Numbers in the text refer to the sources below.
[1] 5237 sayılı Türk Ceza Kanunu. In particular Articles 20–21, 30, 37–39, 59, 73, 80, 106–107, 132–134, 157–158, 168, and 204–207. KS Law legislative text Access source
[2] Presidency of Migration Management. İkamet Genel Bilgiler. Information on application procedures and intermediaries Access source
[3] Ankara Provincial Directorate of Migration Management. Yabancıların Dikkatine. Warning about fraudulent websites and misleading application services Access source
[4] 5271 sayılı Ceza Muhakemesi Kanunu. In particular Articles 48, 91, 95, 100–101, 109, 147–150, 154, 158, 202, 234, and 324 Access source
[5] Ministry of Justice. Adli Yardım Bilgilendirme Sayfası. Foreign nationals’ rights in criminal procedure and interpreter costs Access source
[6] 6098 sayılı Türk Borçlar Kanunu. In particular Articles 49, 77, and 112. Text adopted by TBMM; tort, unjust enrichment, and failure to perform an obligation Access source
[7] Presidency of Migration Management. About Using False Document. Information on use of forged documents Access source
[8] 6458 sayılı Yabancılar ve Uluslararası Koruma Kanunu. In particular Articles 4, 46, 48–49, and 52–59. Copy of Legislative Information System text published by ODTÜ Access source