"You Have Been Sued" SMS and Calls: What is Fake Lawyer/Prosecutor Scam, and What Should You Do?

The Threat at the Other End of the Phone and the Artificial Crisis Created

Today, fraudulent activities carried out through the misuse of information systems and communication tools are based on sophisticated manipulation that directly targets individuals' fear, panic, and concerns about their social reputation. Fraudsters create an immediate crisis scenario by impersonating public officials (judges, prosecutors, police officers) or authorized lawyers/mediators.

Psychological Coercion Mechanisms Used by Scammers

The process consists of specific psychological and tactical stages aimed at disabling the victim's rational thinking mechanisms:

• Time Pressure and a False Sense of Urgency: The victim is not given the opportunity to think, consult with relatives, or obtain confirmation from official authorities. Statements such as, "Your case will be referred to the high criminal court within an hour," "An arrest warrant is about to be issued," and "If payment isn't made before the end of business today, seizure of assets will occur," create cognitive impairment (loss of judgment due to panic).

• The Illusion of Authority and Legal Terminology: The victim's unfamiliarity with legal terminology is exploited. Fabricated concepts with no legal basis, such as "conciliation file fee," "request of the plaintiff's attorney," "public prosecution waiver fee," and "i-Criminal inquiry number," are listed one after another to create a sense of officialdom.

• Isolation Tactics: Scammers often prevent the victim from receiving support from their network by saying, "The conversation is being recorded, don't tell anyone about it, there's a confidentiality agreement."

What does this mean?

Scammers deliberately scare and rush you. Their goal is to get you to send the money while you're panicking, without giving you a chance to say, "Wait a second, let me check UYAP (the Turkish judicial information system) or ask a lawyer." If they're preventing you from talking to anyone and forcing you to make an immediate decision, it's not a legal process, but a planned trap.

Why are themes like "Illegal Gambling," "Massage/Escort Services," "Criminal Cases," and "Enforcement Proceedings" chosen?

It's no coincidence that scammers choose these specific themes instead of random topics in their scenarios. These themes simultaneously trigger two fundamental vulnerabilities: Fear of Legal Repercussions and Concern about Social Reputation (Disgrace) .

• Illegal Betting and Gambling Cases: Under Law No. 7258, it is known that engaging in illegal betting can lead to administrative fines and legal proceedings. Scammers easily convince individuals by saying, "Your activity on the illegal betting panel has been detected, MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) has blocked your account, but your penalty will be waived through a settlement."

• Massage Parlor and Escort Websites: On the internet, the phone numbers of people who have only clicked on or messaged these types of sites are obtained. Money is demanded under names such as "compensation for the victim's suffering," "office appointment cancellation fee," and "complainant's lawyer's settlement fee." The victim, embarrassed by the potential repercussions for their family, spouse, or work environment, tends to pay the money without investigating the situation.

• Threats of Criminal Prosecution and Enforcement: Direct threats of asset seizure, bank account blocking, or imprisonment immediately elicit obedience and a quick problem-solving reflex in an average citizen.

What does this mean ?

Scammers exploit things people are ashamed of, want to keep secret, or are terrified of. Fearing things like, "We'll tell a family member," "Our spouse will get the case details," or "We'll face charges for sexual offenses or gambling," people, without considering whether they're right or wrong, simply deposit the requested money, thinking, "Let's close this matter, let no one find out." The scammers' biggest advantage isn't your guilt, but the shame and panic you feel.

The Most Common Fake Trial and Criminal Fraud Scenarios

Fraud networks use specific, standardized scenarios to lure their victims by exploiting technological advancements and impersonating official institutions. The three most common methods are:

Fake SMS and Phishing Links

Citizens receive SMS messages on their mobile phones with titles such as "Ministry of Justice," "UYAP Reconciliation," and "i-Criminal Information." The message text includes phrases like "Today is the last day for your criminal case," "Click here to pay compensation," or "Last notification before an arrest warrant," along with links to fake websites (e.g., adalet-ceza-sorgu.com , uyap-uzlasma-dosya.net ). Clicking these links redirects citizens to fake pages that perfectly mimic the e-Government or UYAP interface, where they are asked to provide their Turkish Republic identity number, bank details, or make a direct payment.

• Legal and Technical Aspects: These actions, which constitute a crime under the Electronic Communications Law No. 5809 and Articles 243/244 of the Turkish Penal Code (Unlawful Access to an Information System and Data Acquisition), involve copying official interfaces. The Ministry of Justice or the UYAP system does not send SMS messages to citizens that contain direct payment screens or links requesting passwords; SMS notifications are solely for guidance and informational purposes.

• What does this mean?

  Never click on links in SMS messages that say, "You have a criminal record, click the link immediately or action will be taken." The government never tells its citizens via SMS, "Go to this link, enter your credit card information or send money, and your case will be closed." Actual case inquiries can only be made through official portals that you access directly by typing turkiye.gov.tr or vatandas.uyap.gov.tr into your browser.

Fake Lawyer and Mediator Searches

In this scenario, scammers present themselves using the registration numbers and names of genuine lawyers registered with the Turkish Bar Association. The victim is told they are a party to an investigation file (for example, a complaint or a case of victimization via a website). Using the title "Plaintiff's lawyer" or "Officer of the Public Prosecutor's Office Mediation Bureau," they say, "The other party is demanding a settlement fee of 30,000 TL; if you pay this, the case will be closed without going to the prosecutor's office and will not be recorded in your record," and provide a personal IBAN number.

• Legal and Technical Aspects: According to Article 253 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK) and the Mediation Regulation, the mediation process is conducted only by official personnel registered with the Ministry of Justice's Mediator Registry. The mediator communicates with the parties through an official appointment document; the mediation proceeds are directed to official channels/institutions agreed upon by the parties, not to personal lawyer or mediator accounts. Transferring money to a personal account through coercion and threats via telephone is completely outside the legal mediation procedure.

• What does this mean?

  If someone calling you introduces themselves as a lawyer or mediator and says, "There's a complaint; if you send 15-20 thousand TL, we'll close the case here instead of sending it to the prosecutor's office," that's completely false. In a formal mediation process, no one will rush you and ask for money in their personal bank account; mediation offers are conducted with written records and legal guarantees.

Fake Judge and Prosecutor Searches

This is one of the most aggressive methods used by scammers. The victim is contacted directly, and the title "Public Prosecutor" or "Criminal Court Judge" is used. Intense psychological pressure is exerted with statements such as, "Your name is involved in a terrorist organization or money laundering investigation," "Crimes have been committed using your identity information; we need to transfer your money from the bank to a secure account for investigation," or "There is an arrest warrant against you; if you don't deposit bail, the police will come to your door."

• Legal and Technical Aspects: According to Articles 158/1-L and 158/1-d of the Turkish Penal Code, this act, committed by claiming to have a relationship with public officials or using information systems as a tool, constitutes the crime of aggravated fraud. In the Turkish legal system, no judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer (police/gendarmerie) can demand money or jewelry from a citizen, or request money transfers under the guise of a "secure account." Detention, summons for questioning, and judicial proceedings are carried out in accordance with proper procedure through written notification or by law enforcement.

• What does this mean?

  No state judge, prosecutor, or police officer will ever call you and ask for money, gold, or IBAN transfers. Anyone who says, "Withdraw the money from your account and transfer it to us," or "Deposit the money with the state to avoid penalties," is clearly a scammer. If you receive such a call, immediately hang up and report the situation to the 112 Emergency Call Center.

How to Determine if a File is Authentic? (Official Process Verification)

The only way to find out if an enforcement proceeding, criminal investigation, or civil lawsuit has been initiated against you is to make an inquiry through the official and controlled digital networks of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Turkey. Instead of relying on the statements of the person on the phone, the following three official verification methods should be followed:

File Inquiry via UYAP Citizen Portal and e-Government

All judicial and administrative proceedings in Türkiye are recorded on the National Judicial Network Information System (UYAP). If there is any legal process initiated in your name, it will invariably be visible in the system.

• Inquiry Steps:

  • Log in using your e-Government password by typing vatandas.uyap.gov.tr or turkiye.gov.tr directly into your browser's address bar.

  • Click on the "File Inquiry" tab in the UYAP Citizen Portal.

  • Check the "Criminal," "Civil," and "Enforcement" categories separately under the "Judicial Type" section to see if there are any active (pending) or closed cases opened in your name.

• Legal and Technical Aspects: According to the Electronic Signature Law No. 5070 and the Civil/Criminal Procedure Laws, no lawsuit, enforcement proceeding, or official mediation process that is not recorded in the UYAP system has legal effect. The fake numbers transmitted by fraudsters, such as "your file number: 2026/...", do not match UYAP records.

• What does this mean?

  If someone calls you and says, "There's a lawsuit against you, you're facing enforcement proceedings," don't panic. Immediately check the e-Government portal or the UYAP Citizen Portal. Any file you don't see there isn't real. Absolutely do not believe scammers who say, "Your file hasn't been added to the system yet, but you need to pay immediately."

Notification Law Rules: Notification is made through official channels, not by telephone.

In Turkish law, the procedure for judicial notifications to parties is strictly regulated by the Notification Law No. 7201. The commencement of a lawsuit or enforcement proceeding is notified to the recipient through official notification.

• Methods of Serving Notices:

  • Physical Notification: Delivered to the residential or business address via a postal service employee, in an official envelope with a receipt, upon signature.

  • Electronic Notification (UETS): Sent only via the National Electronic Notification System to registered email addresses.

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• Legal and Technical Aspects: According to Article 1 and subsequent articles of the Notification Law; SMS messages, WhatsApp messages, voice calls, or social media notifications do not substitute for official notification. All legally binding objection and payment periods begin to run from the date the official notification is duly served.

• What does this mean?

  The government does not contact you via WhatsApp or regular SMS to send notifications. Messages stating "Enforcement proceedings have been initiated against you, pay within 2 hours" have no legal validity. If it's an official matter, a postal worker will come to your door and deliver a sealed, signed official envelope.

Confirmation via the Bar Association Registry and relevant court clerks' offices.

Scammers often use the name, office address, or bar registration number of a genuine lawyer registered with the Bar Association, which they find online, to gain trust.

• Confirmation Steps:

  • Find the name of the person who identifies themselves as a lawyer by checking the "Bar Association Register / Lawyer Search" screen on the official website of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations.

  • Instead of calling the phone number that made the call, find the official office landline number registered in the Bar Association Registry and call them directly, then confirm by asking, "Did your office contact me regarding this case?"

  • If there is a suspicious investigation or enforcement action allegation, go in person to the Public Prosecutor's Office Application/Preparation Bureau or the Enforcement Distribution Bureau of the relevant courthouse and inquire whether any action has been taken in your name.

• Legal and Technical Aspects: According to Article 9 of the Attorneys' Law No. 1136, lawyers are obligated to keep their contact information registered with the bar association up-to-date. A discrepancy between the phone number used by a person identifying themselves as a lawyer and the official contact information registered with the bar association directly raises suspicion of identity theft and forgery.

• What does this mean?

  If someone calls you and says, "I'm lawyer Ahmet Yılmaz, your case is in our office," don't call back the number they give you. Find the real office number by going to the website of the bar association that lawyer belongs to (e.g., Istanbul Bar Association, Ankara Bar Association) and call them. Often, you'll find that the real lawyer isn't even aware that their name is being used in this scam.

Nature and Sanction of the Crime According to the Turkish Penal Code

Calling citizens and demanding money while impersonating a judge, prosecutor, mediator, or lawyer is not a simple case of deception or debt collection under the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). The legislator considers such actions to be serious crimes directly against public trust, judicial authority, and the security of information systems.

Legal and Technical Aspects

The methods employed by the perpetrator(s) in carrying out these acts simultaneously violate multiple aggravating circumstances of the crime of Qualified Fraud , as defined in Article 158 of the Turkish Penal Code:

• Impersonating a Public Official (Turkish Penal Code Article 158/1-L): Fraud committed by a person impersonating a public official (judge, prosecutor, police officer) or a bank/institution employee, or claiming to be affiliated with these institutions, is explicitly considered an aggravated offense.

• Claiming to have connections with public officials (Turkish Penal Code Article 158/1-d): Collecting money through influence peddling and claims of favors, such as "We will discuss your case with the prosecutor and close it," or "We will have your sentence waived through our acquaintances in the courthouse," is punishable under this provision.

• Using Information Systems as a Tool (Turkish Penal Code Article 158/1-f): Committing a crime using fake websites (phishing panels), UYAP/e-Government imitations, or fake SMS integrations constitutes cyber fraud.

• Penalty: The penalty for aggravated fraud is imprisonment for 3 to 10 years and a judicial fine of not less than twice the amount of the benefit obtained from the crime. If the act is committed under more than one article or within an organized structure (Turkish Penal Code Article 220), the penalties are increased by half, deviating from the lower limit.

• Additional Offences: During this process, fraudsters are also considered to have committed the crimes of Unlawfully Obtaining and Disseminating Personal Data (Turkish Penal Code Article 136) and Unlawfully Assuming a Public Office / Usurpation of Title (Turkish Penal Code Article 262) .

What does this mean ?

Those who call you on the phone, impersonating judges, prosecutors, or lawyers to extort money, are not simple thieves in the eyes of the law; they are serious criminals tried in the most severe criminal courts. The state imposes prison sentences of 3 to 10 years and fines many times the amount of money they stole. Therefore, don't think, "They only asked for a small amount, nothing will come of it"; you are dealing with an organized network that commits serious crimes punishable by heavy penalties.

4 Immediate Steps to Take When Faced with Such a Situation

When encountering a call or message suspected of being fraudulent, instead of panicking, it is necessary to quickly activate legal and technical mechanisms:

• 1. Immediately Stop Sharing Financial and Personal Information: No matter how insistent they are, do not make any EFT/wire transfers or FAST transfers to the individuals on the phone under any pretext (file fees, settlement fees, collateral, insurance). Absolutely do not share your Turkish Republic ID number, bank account/card passwords, or one-time SMS verification codes.

• 2. Record All Digital Evidence Completely: Do not delete the caller's phone number, the date and time of the call, or screenshots of incoming SMS and WhatsApp messages. Back up any IBAN number, recipient's name and surname, and receipt information for money transfers digitally for use in legal proceedings.

• 3. Contact the Bank's Fraud Department: If the money transfer has been completed, immediately contact the bank's customer service to report the fraud. Request an immediate block on the account to prevent withdrawal of the transferred amount and file a chargeback.

• 4. File a Complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office or Cyber Crime Units: A written complaint should be submitted to the nearest Public Prosecutor's Office in the area where the incident occurred. The relevant law enforcement agency's Cyber Crime Unit should then be contacted with the evidence to initiate the investigation process.

What does this mean?

If you receive such a call, stay calm and hang up; do not send a single penny. If you deposited money in a moment of panic, immediately call your bank and say, "I've been scammed, block the money." Then, take screenshots of the messages, call logs, and receipts, and go to the nearest courthouse to file a complaint with the prosecutor's office.

How can law and consulting firms provide support during this process?

(Prepared for general information purposes within the framework of the Attorneys' Law No. 1136 and the Turkish Bar Association's Advertising Ban Regulation.)

Ensuring the legal security of individuals threatened by fraud or who have suffered material or moral damage as a result of such actions requires that the process be conducted professionally and on a legal basis. Independent lawyers and law firms offer the following legal services at this stage:

• File and Risk Analysis: The individual's legal status is reviewed through the UYAP system to officially determine whether there are any genuine criminal investigations, public prosecutions, or enforcement proceedings opened against them. Unfounded allegations are distinguished from genuine legal processes.

• Complaint Filing and Evidence Management: In order to identify perpetrators of aggravated fraud, comprehensive criminal complaint petitions are prepared in accordance with proper procedures, and the preliminary investigation by the prosecutor's office is followed up to obtain HTS (telephone call-signal) records, IP addresses, and bank account transactions.

• Compensation for Financial Damages and Enforcement Proceedings: Once the perpetrators of the crime are identified, legal and enforcement proceedings are initiated to ensure their punishment by intervening in the criminal case as a victim/participant, and to recover the lost financial amounts from the perpetrators and the third parties who allowed the use of the account (accountants/intermediaries).

What does this mean?

A law firm can clarify through official channels within minutes whether a lawsuit actually exists in your name, preventing scammers from deceiving you. If you have lost money, they will prepare your complaint in legal language, ensuring the perpetrators are found and the legal process for recovering your money through enforcement or compensation is handled on your behalf.

If you suspect there is a lawsuit or enforcement proceeding against you:

You can consult with an expert lawyer to clarify your current legal situation through secure channels, properly manage your legal processes, or protect your legal rights in case of fraud.

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