Russian Tourists Warned of Fake Medical Checkup Scams in Turkey

Russian citizens are increasingly falling victim to scammers offering cut-rate medical checkups in Turkey, according to Dr. Irem Baglikaya, a Turkish physician and owner of a chain of clinics in Ankara. The fraudsters collect upfront payments and then disappear, leaving patients with no appointments and no way to get their money back.

Dr. Baglikaya told reporters that the schemes often involve convincing websites and fake documents featuring logos and photos of real Turkish hospitals. “We are seeing more and more cases where Russians are offered a very cheap checkup package. After they wire the deposit, the organizers stop answering calls, or it turns out no reservation ever existed,” she explained. She urged travelers to book only through official clinic websites or licensed medical tourism agencies.

The doctor also advised potential patients to contact the clinic directly before paying anything and to never transfer funds to private individuals without a signed contract. Turkey remains one of the world’s top destinations for medical tourism, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually for everything from dental work to plastic surgery. But as demand grows, so do the number of fraudulent operators selling phantom services.