The social media platform called Twitch is a platform where players, in particular, interact with the audience and broadcast. Publishers such as Ahmet “Jahrein” Result, Elraenn, Pqueen and Kendi Musician were among the most watched Twitch streamers in Turkey. However, Twitch has been on the agenda for a long time not with important developments in broadcasting in Turkey, but with a scam.
According to the news of Cevdet Fırat Aydoğmuş from Türkiye Newspaper, 40 suspects who allegedly stole one million dollars (13.7 million TL) with a stolen credit card on Twitch, a live broadcasting platform focused on e-Sports and video games, were detained in the past few days. While the questioning of the suspects, including Twitch phenomena, continues, Attorney Kürşat Ergün, President of the IT Law Association, made an assessment on the subject. Ergun claimed that Twitch was just the tip of the iceberg.
TWITCH IS NOT THE FIRST
Stating that the incident could grow even more on different social media platforms, Ergün said, “As technology has developed, crime methods have also changed. We saw that many crimes were committed through different channels by using information systems. This situation emerged with Twitch, but before, such activities were carried out in different channels. A number of money laundering methods have come into play, especially in order to evade financial controls. Here, too, securities are transformed into a kind of valuable buying and selling tool on the internet or gaming channels and sent to people. For this, phenomena are used.”
“THEY CAN BE PRISONED FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS”
Noting that such operations will continue, Kürşat Ergün said, “I think it is a much more comprehensive structure. It may spread to different applications. I think the emphasis is way too much over a million. This is just the tip of the iceberg. It seems that even users with few followers receive very high sums. When the account movements are examined, it is revealed how these funds were laundered. I know that the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) is currently conducting an investigation,” he said. Pointing out that the crime in question can be evaluated within the scope of organized crime, Lawyer Ergün said, “This situation is considered within the scope of money laundering and fraud by using information systems over credit cards. If it turns out that these were also done in an organized way, these people will face serious penalties. Considered all together, it is possible for them to be sentenced to more than 10 years.” Ergün suggested that citizens use ‘virtual cards’ in order not to be defrauded.