Those unable to secure spots in the official system are falling prey to scammers on social media, with black-market appointment prices reaching €1,000.
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According to Cumhuriyet newspaper, which reports on the deepening Schengen visa crisis, Turkish applicants unable to find slots in the official appointment system are becoming targets of scammers operating through social media. These individuals, operating under promises of 'fast appointments,' have driven black-market appointment prices up to €1,000.
A shortage of appointment capacity at EU embassies and consulates is pushing tens of thousands of Turkish citizens who cannot submit applications toward unofficial channels. Scammers are reported to have advertised fake services — particularly on platforms such as Instagram and Telegram — collected money, and then vanished.
According to Cumhuriyet, the number of victims is growing daily; however, the vast majority of official complaints result in no money being recovered. The report emphasizes that the legal application route has become effectively blocked for Turkish citizens wishing to travel to the Schengen zone, and notes that authorities have yet to announce any comprehensive measures to address the issue.