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As the summer holiday season picks up across Türkiye, so does the demand for rental cars—yet this boom has also opened the door for a wave of online fraud.
According to consumer complaints and industry sources, increasing numbers of travelers are falling victim to fake car rental websites that closely mimic legitimate platforms of major brands such as Avis, Enterprise, and Garenta.
The method behind the scam is both simple and effective. Criminals first build a website that closely resembles the official site of a well-established car rental brand. They then buy a domain name that is nearly identical to the original, often differing by just one character. Once the fake site is up, they invest heavily in search engine optimization (SEO) to ensure their version appears among the top search results when users type in terms like “car rental” or the brand’s name.
This tactic exploits the trust users place in the top search results, leading many to book vehicles through fraudulent platforms, unaware they are not dealing with the actual company.
The scam does not end with fake websites. After initiating contact—often via phone or online messaging—scammers request an advance payment or deposit, claiming it is needed to reserve the vehicle. Once the money is transferred, victims are blocked and all communication ceases. The financial losses are often irreversible, leaving travelers without transport and no legal recourse.
Social media platforms and consumer complaint forums have seen a spike in posts from those who believed they had secured a vehicle from a well-known brand, only to realize they had transferred funds to a scammer.
The rise in fraudulent cases has alarmed Türkiye’s car rental sector. The head of the All Car Rental and Mobility Institutions Association (TOKKDER), Kagan Yasa, who spoke to Hurriyet, stated that the organization has raised the issue with the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Trade.
He explained that fake sites and social media pages are set up to impersonate recognized brands, often using similar logos and contact information. Consumers are approached via non-official channels and misled into sending advance payments. “Unfortunately, these consumers are scammed, and the companies being impersonated face reputational damage,” he said. Yasa urged consumers to use only well-established brands, preferably those affiliated with TOKKDER, which offer widespread branch networks and post-rental support.
To help the public avoid falling victim to these scams, TOKKDER and its member companies have launched awareness campaigns, reminding travelers to follow a few key steps:
The widespread nature of this scheme not only causes financial harm to individuals but also undermines trust in Türkiye’s rental car market. As travel picks up across the country, particularly during holiday seasons, industry players hope that increased awareness and tighter regulation will help curb the threat.
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