Scammers collect money in the name of the Demir brothers missing in the Filo Jet disaster

The family of Mustafa and Mahmut Demir, who went missing in the Filo Jet ferry disaster, said that unknown individuals are circulating bank details in their name and collecting money. The relatives stress that they have not announced any fundraising campaign and ask people not to transfer funds using such details.

Mustafa Demir, 33, and Mahmut Demir, 28, were travelling by ferry from Kyrenia to Turkey and are among those reported missing. Their relatives are awaiting news in Reyhanlı, in Turkey’s Hatay Province.

Their elder brother, Halil Demir, said that bank account numbers allegedly opened in the brothers’ names are being circulated online. “People’s good intentions are being exploited for evil; there is no need for this,” he said, adding that the family is in no need of anything: “We do not need other people’s money; the state is standing by us.”

Another relative, İbrahim Demir, said: “We have not even received the bodies yet, and the scammers are already collecting money from people.” The family urged people not to trust such messages and appealed to the authorities to find those distributing the bank details.

Searches off Kyrenia are continuing for the ninth day. According to official data, 14 people are confirmed dead and another 14 are considered missing. The vessel’s hull lies at a depth of around 554 m; nine vessels and 11 aircraft are involved in the operation. Round-the-clock operations are being conducted by the Turkish Navy ships TCG Işın and TCG Alemdar using robotic underwater systems.