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A woman in Ankara lost over $740 in a scam while attempting to access an illegal betting website. Prosecutors are investigating the fraud, but she also faces a fine for participating in unlawful betting, which is punishable in Türkiye.
Despite being prohibited under Türkiye’s strict laws, illegal online sports betting continues to lure thousands across the country—often with devastating consequences. In a recent case from Ankara, a 46-year-old woman identified as M.E. found herself defrauded while trying to place bets through a website later revealed to be both illegal and fraudulent.
According to an official investigation file, M.E. attempted to access a site named "meritking" on May 26. The platform had briefly gained public attention after falsely promoting itself as a sponsor of Turkish football club Galatasaray. When M.E. was unable to log in through regular means, she turned to Google, where she found and accessed a counterfeit website called "meridking"—a near-identical scam copy created to deceive users.
After logging into the fake site, M.E. was instructed to deposit funds in order to begin betting. Following the website’s guidance, she transferred ₺10,000 (approximately $255) to a bank account belonging to a person identified as K.C.K. However, no funds appeared in her betting account.
When she contacted the website's so-called customer support via WhatsApp, she was told her money was “pending” and that the platform could only process refunds for balances over ₺30,000 (around $765). She was urged to deposit an additional ₺20,000 to reclaim her funds. Trusting the messages, M.E. made a second transfer of ₺19,160 (roughly $486).
Only after continued delays and repeated excuses did she realize she had fallen victim to a well-organized scam. She immediately filed a criminal complaint with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecutor has since contacted the bank involved, requesting a freeze on the account to which M.E.’s money was transferred. An investigation is underway to identify the suspects behind the fraudulent site. If identified, they could face criminal charges.
However, M.E. herself may not walk away unpunished. Under Law No. 7258, which governs betting and games of chance on sports competitions in Türkiye, participating in illegal betting—even as a victim—constitutes a civil offense. Those found guilty can face administrative fines ranging between ₺5,000 and ₺20,000 (approximately $127–$510).
Legal experts note that these dual consequences—being scammed and fined—reflect the legal system’s strict stance against unlawful betting. Authorities believe that applying financial penalties even to victims will deter the broader public from engaging with illegal platforms.
Despite the risks, illegal betting continues to flourish in Türkiye. The allure of quick profit, coupled with aggressive online marketing and fraudulent sponsorship claims, has contributed to a surge in participation. Many sites mimic the appearance of legitimate platforms or pose as sponsors of popular football clubs to gain trust.
Cybercrime units and financial crime investigators are now working more closely to detect and shut down such operations, yet the demand remains high.
Cybersecurity professionals urge the public to:
Tweet: A woman in Türkiye trying to bet on an illegal gambling site was defrauded of $740—now she faces a fine herself under Türkiye's anti-betting laws
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