49 detained in Schengen visa appointment fraud probe
Turkish authorities have launched an operation against 49 suspects accused of using bots to seize Schengen visa appointments and resell them to applicants at inflated prices.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the suspects operated as visa consultants and used software to access online appointment systems run by consulates and authorised visa service providers.
They allegedly booked appointments in bulk, making it difficult for applicants to obtain slots directly.
The suspects are accused of charging high fees for guaranteed visas or appointments, including under the guise of software, consultancy and service costs. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said investigators found cases in which fees were not refunded when promised services were not delivered. Applicants’ personal data was also allegedly transferred to private digital systems.
