Turkey arrests two Moroccans in major Forex fraud case

This update focuses on Turkey Forex fraud. Turkish authorities have announced the dismantling of a large international Forex fraud network, in a case where two Moroccan nationals are among those arrested.

An international Forex fraud network taken down in Turkey

According to information reported by local media, the operation was carried out in Istanbul through a joint action by intelligence services and the city’s security directorate, under the supervision of the public prosecutor’s office.

In total, 248 suspects are targeted. They are believed to be part of a network specialised in scams and fraud on the foreign exchange market (Forex), which allegedly targeted victims in several countries by promising highly profitable investments.

Among those arrested are 45 foreign nationals, including two Moroccans, as well as individuals from Pakistan, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Ukraine, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh and other countries.

Turkey Forex fraud case exceeds 30 million dollars

In this Turkey Forex fraud case, authorities seized assets estimated at around 1.5 billion Turkish lira, the equivalent of more than 30 million US dollars, according to the same sources.

The seizures include 80 vehicles and 12 real estate properties. These properties are believed to have been used as call centres and headquarters for the network, which relied heavily on digital tools to reach potential victims and convince them to invest.

Police investigations are still under way to identify and locate other individuals who may be linked to this organisation, which is described as structured and active in several regions of the world.

A warning to Moroccans living abroad

For Moroccans living abroad, this case highlights the risks linked to remote financial scams, especially when it comes to fast, speculative products such as Forex.

Fraudsters often target savers based outside their home country, sometimes isolated from their usual networks, by playing on language, cultural ties and the promise of high, almost risk-free returns.

Before committing money, a few precautions can reduce the risk:

• check the legal existence of the company and its regulatory status in the country where it operates;
• be wary of guaranteed profits or very quick returns;
• use only licensed and well-known financial intermediaries;
• seek advice from an independent professional or your own bank;
• never transfer funds to personal accounts or to countries with weak financial oversight.

For investment projects in Morocco, it is generally safer to use formal channels supervised by Moroccan authorities or trusted banking and institutional partners, rather than unverified platforms or intermediaries based abroad.

Turkish authorities’ stance and need for caution

Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek has stated, through his official channels, that authorities intend to continue their crackdown on criminal organisations using technology to deceive savers.

He explained that the investigation is being conducted as part of several cases opened by the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office in 2026, in coordination with specialised units dealing with financial crimes and organised crime.

The information currently available comes mainly from Turkish media sources. Further confirmation or details from official bodies are still awaited, particularly regarding the exact role of the two Moroccan nationals in this Turkey Forex fraud case.

In the meantime, this operation is a reminder to Moroccans abroad and in Morocco that caution is essential when dealing with online investment offers, especially when they involve cross-border networks that are hard to trace.

To better secure their projects, Moroccans living abroad are encouraged to consult practical guides provided by Moroccan institutions and diplomatic missions, as well as specialised resources on financial scams and investor protection.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.

For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.