February 9, 2026

The Council of Higher Education has sent a correspondence to all universities aimed at informing university students and strengthening preventive efforts against fraud cases carried out through the misuse of IBAN accounts, which have increasingly affected university students and young people in recent years.

The correspondence emphasized that such fraud cases have become a serious area of societal risk, leading not only to individual victimization but also to criminal investigations.

It was stated that investigations conducted by Chief Public Prosecutors’ Offices show that a significant number of students become victims because they allow their bank accounts to be used by third parties — often in good faith or in response to promises of short-term financial gain — without fully foreseeing the legal and criminal consequences of their actions. It was also stressed that this issue is not merely a judicial matter.

Highlighting the importance of preventive and educational measures aimed at protecting university students, the correspondence noted that strengthening institutional cooperation between Chief Public Prosecutors’ Offices and universities is crucial. It emphasized the importance of jointly carrying out awareness and preventive initiatives designed to inform young people before they become involved in criminal proceedings.

Council Requests Cooperation with Chief Public Prosecutors’ Offices

The correspondence also included assessments indicating that, in ongoing initiatives led by Chief Public Prosecutors’ Offices, providing information to young people through clear, simple, and direct language based on field experience — and conducting these efforts within university environments with the support of university administrations — significantly increases their effectiveness. It read:

“It is considered a natural requirement of institutional responsibility for our universities to actively participate as stakeholders in protecting students from legal risks, maintaining a safe educational environment, and preventing young people from being unintentionally drawn into criminal activities. In this regard, it is planned to carry out voluntary, informative, preventive, and awareness-raising activities, seminars, and informational programs in coordination with Chief Public Prosecutors’ Offices and with the contribution of academic and administrative units deemed appropriate by university administrations. These initiatives are intended to be implemented in a manner consistent with universities’ internal functioning and educational environments, with a perspective focused on protecting and informing young people.

Accordingly, I kindly request that necessary support be provided for these initiatives to be carried out between Chief Public Prosecutors’ Offices and universities, that relevant units within universities be informed, and that cooperation be established where deemed appropriate.”