IBAN Lending Crackdown: Record Fines and Prison Sentences

The Turkish judiciary is launching a major offensive against a surge in financial crime involving the unauthorized use of bank accounts. Under a sweeping new legal framework, individuals who rent out their IBAN numbers or allow third parties to use their bank accounts will now be prosecuted for “qualified fraud”. This legislative shift aims to dismantle the infrastructure used by criminal networks to launder money, introducing penalties that include up to 3 years in prison and administrative fines of up to 2.5 million TL.

MASAK Reports Surge in Suspicious Financial Activity

The move comes in response to alarming data from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK). In 2025 alone, authorities recorded approximately 1 million suspicious transaction reports, with over half initiated directly by banking institutions. Investigations revealed that 65% of these flags were tied to active fraud schemes. Estimates suggest that nearly 50,000 citizens across Turkey have already fallen victim to these tactics, which often disguise criminal activity as legitimate business opportunities.

Criminal organizations typically target vulnerable groups, including students, retirees, and homemakers. By offering “scholarships” or “work-from-home” positions, scammers gain access to a victim’s bank account details. Once control is established, these accounts serve as conduits for cleaning “black money” derived from illegal betting, unlicensed gambling, and narcotics trafficking.

Tough New Penalties for Account Misuse

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek confirmed that the new regulations, soon to reach the Parliament, will fundamentally change how these crimes are treated. The core of the reform focuses on accountability and deterrence:

• Qualified Fraud Classification: Both those who lease their accounts for profit and those who pay to use another’s IBAN will be tried for high-level fraud.

• Heavy Financial Consequences: Beyond potential jail time, the 2.5 million TL administrative fine serves as a deterrent against “quick cash” lures.

• Restricted Legal Defenses: The regulation seeks to limit the “I was unaware of the activity” defense, placing a higher burden of responsibility on account holders for any movement of funds under their name.

Legal experts warn that even small transfers can implicate a user as a co-conspirator, potentially leading to sentences of 4 to 10 years under existing anti-money laundering laws. To stay safe, citizens are urged to monitor their accounts through the e-Government (e-Devlet) portals and immediately report any unauthorized transactions to both their banks and the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

source: karar