Is Buying from Turkey Risky?
Turkey is one of the world's top 20 economies and a leading exporter of textiles, steel, marble, chemicals, machinery, and agricultural products. Tens of thousands of legitimate, reliable Turkish companies trade internationally every day. The country offers genuine value for international buyers.
However, the same open trade environment that makes Turkey attractive also creates vulnerabilities. International buyers — particularly those engaging with Turkish suppliers for the first time — are regularly targeted by sophisticated fraud schemes. Understanding these risks is the first step to protecting yourself.
The 6 Main Risks When Trading with Turkey
Advance Payment Fraud
The most common risk. A fraudulent "supplier" requests a deposit, collects it, then cuts off contact. Losses range from a few thousand to millions of euros. Particularly common in marble, textiles, and agricultural commodities sectors.
Ghost & Shell Companies
Companies legally registered in the Turkish Trade Registry with a convincing name, website, and business card — but no real factory, no staff, and no operational capacity. Registration costs very little in Turkey; anyone can register a company.
Exaggerated Production Capacity
A real but small Turkish manufacturer claims production capacity far beyond what they can actually deliver. They accept your order, take partial payment, then fail to fulfil — blaming "delays" indefinitely.
Forged Certifications & Quality Documents
ISO 9001, CE marks, lab test reports, and export licences are routinely forged by fraudulent Turkish suppliers to win contracts. Buyers discover the problem only when goods arrive (or don't).
IBAN / Bank Account Fraud
Fraudsters intercept email communications between buyer and legitimate supplier, inserting their own Turkish IBAN. The buyer pays thinking they are paying the real company. This is called Business Email Compromise (BEC).
Quality Substitution After Order
A real Turkish supplier ships goods that are materially different — inferior quality, wrong specifications, or heavily diluted — compared to the samples shown or agreed in the contract.
Which Sectors Are Highest Risk in Turkey?
Advance payment scams, ghost companies with no real quarry operations
Quality substitution after deposit, exaggerated production capacity
Advance payment fraud, non-delivery, fake export licences
Certificate forgery, grade substitution after partial payment
Capacity exaggeration, fake dealers posing as manufacturers
Certification fraud, mislabelling, diluted product shipments
Fake agents, deposit fraud, misrepresented property titles
How to Reduce Your Turkey Trade Risk
- Always verify before paying: Use Verify Turk to confirm the company is real before any advance payment.
- Visit or arrange a site visit: Physical confirmation of a factory or office eliminates most ghost company risks.
- Verify certifications independently: Don't accept documents at face value — check directly with issuing bodies.
- Use secure payment terms: Letters of credit, escrow, or staged payments reduce advance payment risk.
- Verify IBAN independently: Always confirm bank details via a separate channel before transferring funds.
How Verify Turk Helps Manage Turkey Trade Risks
Company Verification confirms the Turkish company is real and active.
Supplier Verification confirms capacity, certifications, and export history.
Advance Payment Protection verifies the company and IBAN before funds leave.
Anti-Fraud Check delivers a verdict in 3–5 hours.
Turkey Trade Facts
Turkey Trade Risk — Frequently Asked Questions
Turkey Trade Protection Checklist
Manage your Turkey trade risk
One verification report protects your investment.