Turkish Hotel Owner Accused of Stealing $30 Million from Tourists

Turkish Hotel Owner Accused of $30 Million Tourist Card Theft A major theft has rocked the popular tourist destination of Kusadasi, Turkey. Authorities have arrested 20 individuals in connection with a scheme that allegedly defrauded tourists of $30 million. The investigation points to a hotel owner as the mastermind behind the operation. According to Anadolu Agency, the suspects used stolen card information to make withdrawals after tourists left the country. "This is a significant crime that has impacted hundreds of tourists," said a Turkish police official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We are working to recover the stolen funds and bring those responsible to justice." The scheme involved obtaining tourists' personal data and sharing it with other hotels and car rental companies. Once the tourists had departed, the suspects used the information to access their bank accounts and make large withdrawals. Some suspects even traveled abroad to withdraw cash using the stolen cards. At least 286 foreign nationals are believed to be victims of this crime. Turkish authorities are warning tourists to exercise caution and only use their cards in reputable establishments. The investigation is ongoing, but the scale of the theft underscores the need for increased security measures in the tourism industry.