PAYMIX 5: Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office Conducts Operation Against Illegal Betting Network, 467 Accounts Blocked

Under the coordination of the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime Investigation Bureau, the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command Cyber Crimes Combat Branch took action on October 23, 2024, within the scope of the 'PAYMIX 5' investigation.

According to the prosecutor's statement, simultaneous searches and seizure operations were conducted in Antalya, Izmir, Kocaeli, Kütahya, and Samsun in the Istanbul-based operation; 23 suspects were arrested.

The investigation revealed that illegal betting sites had detailed documentation of their player management system. Players' deposit and withdrawal amounts, transaction counts, and dates of last deposit were recorded; users had been divided into categories of 'VIP', 'potential VIP', 'inactive', and 'long inactive'. It was determined that special offers were prepared for those who deposited large sums of money, while inactive account holders were targeted through phone and live chat support channels with bonus and free bet offers in attempts to draw them back into the system.

During seizure operations, precautions were placed on 13 vehicles, 10 residences, and 6 plots of land and gardens. 467 bank and cryptocurrency accounts linked to the suspects were blocked. The prosecutor's office stated that the investigation continues in all aspects.