Türkiye has launched investigations into seven companies over allegations that they used automated software to secure Schengen visa appointments and resell them for profit, media reports said on Wednesday.
The issue has also become a topic of debate in Parliament, where lawmakers submitted questions regarding claims that visa appointments were being collected through bots and sold commercially.
Responding to inquiries, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said Türkiye’s Advertising Authority had opened reviews into seven separate companies, according to the NTV broadcaster.
Authorities had received 143 complaints through the Presidential Communication Center (CIMER) and 10 applications via the e-Government platform concerning visa intermediary services over the past five years, Bolat said.
According to Bolat, complaints involving payments made to personal bank accounts through IBAN transfers and allegations of invoices not being issued have also been referred to the Treasury and Finance Ministry and the Foreign Ministry for further examination.
