Jurisdictions: Türkiye, United States, United Arab Emirates
Practice Areas: Cross-Border Fraud, Criminal Law, Asset Recovery, Banking & Finance, White-Collar Crime
ILF Member Firm: Bıçak Law Firm (Türkiye)
Client Profile and Background
Bıçak Law Firm was retained by a U.S.-based manufacturing company that had engaged in uninterrupted commercial trade with a Turkish automotive supplier for over 14 years. Their established partnership, based on mutual trust and consistent email correspondence, was exploited when cybercriminals orchestrated a targeted email fraud scheme during a routine product order.
The fraudsters hijacked or impersonated corporate email accounts and sent fraudulent payment instructions, supported by forged documents bearing the supplier’s company logo, stamps, and signatures. As a result, the client unknowingly transferred a total of USD 173,462 to unrelated bank accounts in Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates.
Nature of the Fraud
The payment instructions sent to the client claimed that the supplier’s primary bank account was temporarily inactive due to internal issues, and requested that the funds be redirected to another “group company” account. Communications appeared authentic and included falsified proforma invoices, shipment photos, and authorization letters.
Over several transactions, the client transferred funds as follows:
- USD 15,000 to a UAE-based account (test payment)
- USD 71,576, USD 25,000, and USD 61,731 to Turkish bank accounts held by unrelated third-party companies
It wasn’t until the Turkish supplier made direct contact and claimed no payment had been received that the client realized the deception.
Legal Action and Strategic Response by Bıçak Law Firm
Bıçak Law Firm was retained immediately upon discovery of the fraud. The following legal actions were taken:
✅ Criminal Complaint Filed: A criminal complaint for aggravated fraud involving the use of information systems and financial institutions (Articles 157 and 158/1-f of the Turkish Penal Code) was filed with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
✅ Asset Freezing Orders Obtained: Upon urgent request, asset freezing (ihtiyati tedbir) orders were issued by the emergency-duty prosecutor for the identified Turkish bank accounts.
✅ Enforcement of Orders: Bıçak Law Firm’s legal team personally delivered the freezing orders to the respective bank to prevent further movement of funds.
✅ Suspect Identification and Arrest Warrants Issued: Through collaboration with cybercrime units and banking authorities, the suspects involved in the fraud were successfully identified. The Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants for those believed to have orchestrated and benefitted from the fraudulent transactions.
Outcome and Client Benefit
Through decisive, time-sensitive legal intervention, Bıçak Law Firm secured the freezing of fraudulent accounts, ensured the issuance of arrest warrants, and established the legal foundation for both criminal prosecution and civil recovery in Türkiye. The client was shielded from further financial loss, and key evidence was preserved in cooperation with local prosecutors and banks.
Key Lessons and ILF Value
This case is a clear example of how ILF member firms can provide strategic and urgent cross-border legal services. Bıçak Law Firm acted rapidly to prevent irreversible damage, while engaging with cybercrime prosecutors, financial regulators, and foreign clients.
The matter highlights:
- The legal tools available in Türkiye for emergency asset protection
- The risks inherent in international commercial transactions via digital platforms
- The need for legal agility and fraud response mechanisms in an increasingly
interconnected global economy
To learn more about Bıçak Law Firm’s work in cyber fraud prevention, international enforcement, and asset recovery, please visit: www.bicakhukuk.com