You pay for a second-hand item and the seller disappears, or a social-media shop promises shipment but nothing arrives. The first legal distinction is between an ordinary delivery dispute and conduct based on deception from the outset.
In brief: Failure to deliver does not automatically amount to fraud. A false identity, copied listing, fabricated shipping document or a pattern of disappearing immediately after payment may support suspicion of fraud. A criminal complaint and the routes for recovering the purchase price should be assessed separately.
What should be done first?
Notify the bank or payment service provider promptly and ask for the transaction to be investigated. Keep the reference number. A completed bank transfer cannot be assumed to be recoverable in every case.
Save the listing, seller profile and communications. If the platform offers a formal dispute process or protected-payment mechanism, consider using it as well. Check independently whether any link that moved the transaction outside the platform genuinely belonged to the service.
Breach of contract and fraud are not the same
A genuine seller who encounters a stock or delivery problem is not necessarily acting fraudulently. By contrast, advertising goods that never existed, using false payment protection or deliberately misrepresenting shipment can require a different assessment.
The seller’s later silence may be relevant, but the whole course of conduct should be explained. In a criminal complaint, it is usually more useful to describe what the listing promised, which representation caused you to pay and what happened afterwards than to add multiple legal labels without supporting facts.
Evidence to preserve
- The full listing URL, description and photographs.
- Username, profile and available contact information.
- Messages concerning price, delivery and refund terms.
- Payment receipt, recipient name, IBAN and payment description.
- Any shipment number and the genuine carrier’s tracking result.
- Reports made to the platform and responses received.
If the name on the receiving bank account differs from the seller’s name, record that fact but do not assume that the account holder must also be the person who posted the listing. Account lending or third-party payment arrangements can exist; identity and role should be investigated by the competent authorities.
Does a criminal complaint automatically recover the money?
No. A criminal complaint initiates investigation of the incident as a possible offence. Asset-preservation measures and restitution depend on the circumstances. Identifying the offender and locating assets from which a loss can actually be recovered are different matters.
Private-law remedies such as withdrawal from the contract, repayment or damages may also arise. A consumer transaction with a professional seller and a private sale between two individuals may follow different procedures. The competent authority and any monetary thresholds should be checked under the rules in force when the application is made.
Card payment, bank transfer and platform payment
Dispute procedures differ according to the payment method. A card transaction may involve a bank chargeback process; a bank transfer may involve a transfer investigation; a platform may have its own buyer-protection rules. None of these is a universal guarantee of reimbursement.
If several routes are pursued in relation to the same loss, disclose any payments already received. Double recovery of the same amount is not permitted; if only part is recovered, the remaining loss should be identified.
Frequently asked questions
The seller says “withdraw the complaint and I will pay”. What should I do?
A promise to pay is not the same as an actual payment. The effect of withdrawing a complaint or waiving rights depends on the offence and the procedural position; not every offence depends on a complaint by the victim.
My messages were deleted but I still have the bank receipt. Can I apply?
Yes. An application can be considered on the remaining evidence. Explain what is missing and do not alter the records you still have.
Is a small amount too low to pursue?
The amount can affect the practical and procedural route, but it does not mean that no legal right exists.
DISCUSS YOUR CASE
Discuss an online shopping fraud loss
We can review your order details, payment records and correspondence with the seller to assess your options under Turkish law.
A brief summary and important dates are enough for an initial enquiry. Send documents only when requested by our lawyers, through the channel they specify. Do not share passwords, one-time codes or wallet keys.
Sources and legislation
Turkish Criminal Code No. 5237
Code of Criminal Procedure No. 5271
Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098
Originally prepared on 8 September 2026. This article provides general information on Turkish law. Remedies and deadlines should be assessed against the documents and circumstances of each case. The image is illustrative.
Related reading
I Let Someone Use My IBAN or Bank Account
Illegal Betting Investigation and Account Use
Related practice area: Criminal Law.