Twenty-six people were detained for sending illegal betting advertisements via phone numbers starting with 0850. The suspects sent promotional and directing messages encouraging illegal betting to citizens' mobile phones.
The suspects used lines starting with 0850, obtained from telecommunications companies, for bulk message sending. These bulk messages were sent through panels authorized by telecommunications companies for mass messaging.
The identities and addresses of the suspects were determined through technical and physical surveillance. Simultaneous raids were conducted in eight Turkish provinces: Istanbul, Ankara, Balıkesir, İzmir, Kırıkkale, Muğla, Konya, and Bursa.
The Istanbul Police Department's Cyber Crimes Branch carried out the operation.
Updates
The investigation, coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and carried out by Cyber Crimes units using AI-supported analysis, has seen the number of suspects targeted by arrest warrants rise to 33. Digital materials related to the illegal betting scheme were seized during operations authorized by the Ministry of Justice. Minister Akın Gürlek stated regarding the crackdown, "We will follow the trace of crime using all the possibilities provided by technology."
The operation, coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and carried out by Cyber Crimes units using AI-supported analysis, led to arrest warrants for 33 suspects. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced the probe, emphasizing that authorities "will follow the trace of crime using all the possibilities provided by technology." Additionally, investigators seized digital materials from the targeted addresses.
The operation, coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and announced by Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, involved the use of AI-supported analysis and advanced algorithms by the Cyber Crimes Branch. While 26 individuals were initially reported detained, reports now indicate that arrest warrants have been issued for a total of 33 suspects. During searches at the targeted addresses, digital materials were also seized as evidence of the illegal betting advertisement activities.
