An operation was carried out against a fraudulent network using social media channels. Among the 18 suspects referred to the courthouse, there are popular names such as Simge Baranoğlu and Yeşim Aydın.
Phenomenons who allegedly received money from people under the name of prize tax by giving money prizes through social media campaigns were detained. While 16 people were arrested, 2 people were released.
“I would never have accepted the scam if I had known about it”
İzmir Provincial Police Department Anti-Cybercrime Branch carried out an operation against phenomena that receive money from social media users and define them as taxes, by offering the possibility of winning prizes. The network, which was investigated upon the report, was giving this award with a game. They earned much more than the money they gave from these ‘taxes’. Eighteen phenomena, including well-known names such as Simge Baranoğlu, were detained. While 2 people were released from the phenomena, 16 phenomena were arrested.
One of the arrested names and famous for lines such as “Are you afraid of spiders” in 2018, Simge Baranoğlu used the following words in her statement: “I am a social media phenomenon. I earn my living by advertising. This action, which is the subject of the investigation, was like other advertisements. I do not know the parties and the complainants. Their accusations I do not accept”
Likewise, the arrested phenomenon Yeşim Aydın’s statement was as follows: “I earn my living by advertising on social media. These people contacted me and said they wanted to advertise. I accepted because that’s my job. I would never have accepted it if I knew that such a fraud crime was committed.” “I learned at the police that the names and surnames given to me were fake. I did not try to defraud anyone. I did not contact any of the complainants, I did not ask for money. I only received advertising fee. I am very sorry.”