Arrival of Suspicious Money in a Bank Account and Account Blockage

October 30, 2026 — If suspicious money arrives in a bank account, is the account holder considered guilty?

Attorney Aylin Esra Eren

If money arrives in your bank account from someone you do not know, are you considered to have committed a crime?

No. Money arriving in a person's bank account from someone they do not know does not, by itself, indicate that they have committed a crime.

Personal responsibility is essential in criminal law. Whether the account holder knew the source of the money in question, their role in making the transfer, whether the money was transferred to other accounts, and other circumstances of the event must be evaluated together.

Especially in bank accounts used for transferring fraud proceeds to different accounts, the knowledge and intent of the account holder carry importance.

Can letting someone else use your bank account at their request constitute a crime?

Yes, depending on the conditions of the specific case, it can give rise to serious criminal responsibility.

For example, if a person sends money arriving in their own account to other accounts in exchange for a commission, knows that the money originates from a crime, or knowingly assists in the transfer of crime proceeds, their responsibility in terms of criminal law may come into question.

Especially renting bank accounts through job postings given over the internet, work-from-home offers, or promises of easy money-making carries significant risks.

If suspicious money arrives in a bank account, is the account blocked?

Yes, transaction restrictions or legal measures can be applied on the account under certain conditions.

Banks are obligated to evaluate suspicious transactions and make necessary notifications within the scope of Law No. 5549 on the Prevention of Laundering Proceeds of Crime.

However, the restriction applied by the bank within the scope of its own risk assessment and the seizure decision issued by the prosecutor's office or court are not the same legal procedure. The account holder must first learn the source of the applied measure.

Can a person whose account receives suspicious money send the money back?

One must act carefully in this regard. Especially sending the money to another account under the direction of persons communicating via phone or message can leave the account holder facing a much greater legal risk.

Even if the money was truly sent by mistake, returning it through the bank and via a recorded, verifiable method should be preferred. The account holder must not spend, withdraw, or transfer the money to other accounts.

What happens if a criminal investigation is launched against the account holder?

Within the scope of the investigation, bank records, dates of money transfers, sender and receiver accounts, communication records, and other digital evidence may be examined.

Whether the account holder knew the source of the money, who directed the transfers, and whether they contributed to the transfer of crime proceeds are investigated.

Here, especially the evaluation of intent (kast) and participation (iştirak) is important. Merely having used the account is not automatically sufficient for a conviction.

What should a person whose account is blocked do?

First of all, it should be learned from the bank which transaction or decision the restriction is based on, and written information should be obtained as far as possible.

Then, bank slips, account transactions, message logs, and documents regarding the source of the money must be preserved. If an investigation or judicial measure is in question, application should be made to the relevant authorities according to the content of the file.

The path to be followed for removing the block varies depending on whether the measure was applied by the bank or by judicial or administrative authorities.

Does money arriving in an account from someone you do not know constitute a crime?

It does not constitute a crime by itself. However, if the account is used for the purpose of transferring crime proceeds and the person knowingly participates in this activity, criminal responsibility may come into question.

Is it a crime to let someone use a bank account in exchange for a commission?

Depending on the conditions of the specific case, responsibility may arise in terms of fraud, laundering of crime proceeds, or participation in other crimes. Carrying out money transfers knowingly carries serious risks in particular.

What should be done if money arrives in an account by mistake?

The money must not be spent or sent to another account. The transaction should be recorded by contacting the bank, and the refund process should be conducted through the bank's secure and verifiable channels.

The money must not be spent or sent to another account. The bank should be contacted and the refund process should be made through verifiable banking channels.

What can be done if an account is blocked?

First of all, it should be learned whether the blockage stems from the bank's own risk assessment or from the decision of a prosecutor's office, court, or another competent authority. Afterward, application routes should be evaluated according to the relevant decision.

Is money arriving from a person you do not know a crime?

It does not constitute a crime by itself. However, if a person knowingly participates in the transfer of crime proceeds, responsibility in terms of fraud, laundering of crime proceeds, or other crimes may come into question.

Can a block be placed on a bank account due to illegal betting?

Account transactions may be restricted in line with decisions given by competent authorities within the scope of relevant legislation or in line with the legal obligations of the bank. The legal basis and scope of the blockage should be learned.

What can the account holder do?

It should be determined by which authority and on what grounds the blockage was applied, and objection and application routes should be used according to the relevant decision.

For general informational purposes. The documents, application routes, and deadlines of the specific case must be evaluated separately.