If You've Been Scammed · 2026

I just got scammed. What now?

Five-minute action plan. Numbers to call, what to write down, who to email. Istanbul's UKOME revokes licenses based on tourist complaints — your report matters.

Step-by-step (during)

  1. Stay calm. Don't pay the inflated amount.
  2. State out loud: "Polis çağırıyorum." (I'm calling the police.) Then dial 112.
  3. If immediate danger, exit at next traffic stop. Walk to safety.
  4. Photograph: plate, driver's ID card on dashboard, meter, your destination.
  5. Wait for police if dispatched. Otherwise note plate + driver name.

Step-by-step (after, within 24 hours)

  1. Write down everything: plate, time, pickup + drop-off, route taken, fare demanded vs legal.
  2. File IBB Beyaz Masa complaint: dial 153 (TR/EN). Or +90 212 153 00 00.
  3. Email Tourism Police: [email protected].
  4. If card payment: dispute with your bank within 24 hours.
  5. File our anonymous report (feeds public Istanbul scam DB).

Numbers to call

112 · Emergency

Single Turkish emergency line. Police, ambulance, fire. English available 24/7 in Istanbul.

155 · Police direct

Direct police line (still active alongside 112).

153 · IBB Beyaz Masa

Istanbul Municipality complaint hotline — taxi-specific. TR/EN. +90 212 153 00 00.

Tourism Police

+90 (212) 527-4503 · +90 (505) 187-6614 · [email protected] · Yerebatan Cad. No: 6, Sultanahmet (next to Basilica Cistern).

Istanbul Public Transport

+90 (212) 453-7878 · IBB Public Transport Services Directorate (general).

Your embassy

For severe cases (theft, assault). Most embassies in Ankara; consulates in Istanbul. Have your embassy's 24/7 emergency line saved.

Report on this site

Our anonymous report form feeds a public Istanbul scam database. Plate numbers are flagged. Future tourists searching the plate will see the warning.

FAQ