Fake Diploma Ring in Turkey Uncovered: Luxury Academy, Identity Theft, and Exam Manipulation Exposed
Fake Diplomas
Ankara-based criminal organization known as the “Fake Diploma Ring” has come under intense scrutiny as investigators begin to unravel its deep-rooted network involving luxury training centers, forged official IDs, and exam fraud across Turkey.
Tuzem Academy: The Ring’s Luxurious Operations Center
According to the investigation, Tuzem Academy, located in Ankara’s Ulus district, played a central role in the group’s operations. In statements to the prosecution, key informant Mıhyeddin Yakışır described the academy as a lavishly designed mansion complete with server rooms and meeting halls, essentially functioning as the ring’s “headquarters.”
The academy’s owner, Zeynep Karacan, confirmed its use by the criminal network. She revealed that Gökay Celal Gülen, a key member of the group, set up a private tech workspace in the basement, bringing in his own computers and printers to handle digital forgeries and database breaches.
From Middle School Dropout to “Chief Inspector”
In a shocking twist, it was revealed that Yakışır, a 29-year-old drug dealer from Adana with only a middle school education, assumed the identity of a senior narcotics officer in the Turkish National Police. Using fake documents, he managed to acquire e-signatures from high-level institutions such as the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), the Ministry of Education, Ege University, and others.
Leader Admits Ties to Major Exam Scandals
Ziya Kadiroğlu, alleged ringleader, made stunning admissions during interrogation. He confessed to being previously prosecuted as part of the KPSS (civil servant exam) cheating ring between 2010–2016 and confirmed that he had placed impersonators in key national exams including KPSS, ALES, YDS, and even the HSYK judicial exams. Despite these admissions, records show that he was previously acquitted in a document forgery case.
Fake Scores and Exam Manipulations
Journalist Murat Ağırel revealed further details about the scale of fraud. In one case, a candidate who scored only 8 out of 100 in a driver’s license exam was fraudulently bumped to 70 through the network’s backdoor manipulations.
