Türkiye’s Counterfeit Diploma Scandal Exposes Systemic Failures
- The Istanbul Chronicle Team
- Aug 14
- 4 min read
Türkiye is grappling with one of its largest public safety and competence scandals to date. The “counterfeit diploma” investigation, initiated by officials from the Justice Ministry, has revealed that hackers have compromised government systems, including the “e-Government Gateway” (e-Devlet) and “Higher Education Information System” (YÖKSİS), to create fake diplomas and other documents. This incident, which was not limited to individual fraud, reignited debates about the security of electronic signature systems, the lack of oversight in public institutions, and the principle of meritocracy. The ease with which fake documents could be added to official records exposed both technical security vulnerabilities and institutional process weaknesses.
The scandal came to light following an extensive investigation by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's Cybercrime Investigation Bureau. According to findings, counterfeit e-signatures were created by some electronic certificate providers and used to gain unauthorized access to public systems. Furthermore, graduation files were submitted, grades were altered, and many administrative files, such as driver's licenses and associate professor diplomas, were submitted to the e-Government database. According to Medyascope’s report on August 4th, 2025, the documents were so professionally designed that they evaded detection by the government’s own security systems.
According to investigation files, suspects used the infrastructure of electronic certificate services such as TÜRKTRUST and E-İMZATR to replicate the e-signatures of high-level officials in public institutions. Using these forged signatures, they penned and signed virtual documents. Transactions were even carried out on cellular devices, and investigations revealed offers such as “250,000 TL for an associate professorship.” Some of the suspects even managed Twitter accounts to extend their business, advertising their alleged service to many other citizens. The signatures of executives from institutions such as Gazi University and the Ministry of National Education were used in the same way.
In the investigation launched in Ankara, indictments were submitted for approximately 199 people so far, of which 37 are under arrest. The first indictment was finalized in May 2025, and 134 individuals were charged. Medyascope claims the second and third indictments are under processing. Duplicate e-signatures of 14 different managers of public institutions were discovered during the investigation. Those implicated include individuals working as psychologists, engineers, teachers, and academics, all with fraudulent credentials.
One of the biggest scandals among the fake diploma crisis was sourced from Malamire Construction company CEO Mehmet Baykara. According to a report from Serbestiyet, an illicit diploma was registered under his name from Yıldız Technical University's Construction Engineering degree to the e-Government system on August 27, 2024. Additionally, Baykar closely followed up on the process of information related to his entry.
After the acquisition of this diploma, Malamira Construction managed to secure massive dam projects, such as the Ilısu Dam, from the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI), as well as key infrastructural projects like the ongoing Ereğli-İvriz Irrigation System. Furthermore, the company has also secured tenders from the General Directorate of Highways for key road projects, including the Diyarbakır-Silvan, Diyarbakır-Siverek, Ağrı-Patnos, and Ağrı-Tutak roadways, as well as significant transport initiatives, such as the development of the Eruh-Fındık road.
Political actions followed the scandal as well. The Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Group Chairman Gökhan Günaydın presented four standalone questions to the Ministries of Interior, Health, National Education, and Transportation on August 8, 2025. He argued that the issue is not merely about isolated acts of bribery, but rather a coordinated criminal network undermining the integrity of education, public administration, and national security. In an interview with the Cumhuriyet paper, Günaydın called on ministries to announce the scope of the case, information concerning those actors held responsible, and what actions were taken.
In his statement, Günaydın referred to merit appointments, the absence of controls, and information security loopholes created room for such aberrations. He emphasized that the non-functionality of the government institutions gives rise to such developments, and any day spent without taking precautions disperses distrust among citizens towards the government.
The effect of the scandal did not stay limited to the political sphere; professional institutions also issued strict statements. The Turkish Chamber of Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), Chamber of Computer Engineers, Turkish Psychologists Association, and the Istanbul Bar Association issued a statement on August 7, 2025, saying that such a scandal was not just a “structural problem” but evidence of systematic collapse.
Based on the DW Turkish review, this circumstance has raised questions about the reliability of the electronic signatures and how enforceable it is. Under normal conditions, an e-signature system could only be used with the authentication of the person who is registered and accepted as legal. However, the investigation exposed how fragile the system is, showing that it could easily be hacked and used for malicious purposes.
One of Timur Soykan’s latest reports corroborates this circumstance. Under the investigation files, a person accused of drug dealing was registered as “Narcotics Branch Chief” under the General Directorate of Security’s Narcotics Crime Bureau using a fake electronic signature. It was mentioned that he had individual access to this system to complete the official registration and identify himself to this alleged title using a fake identity and signature
The Istanbul Bar Association declared that the scandal undermined public confidence in the law and legal professions. They announced that some members of the deceased Bar Association who died in the February 6, 2023, earthquakes had provided false information about their graduation, which is illegal. These individuals had not received bar licenses. The Bar Association called for an "investigation into such activities, which caused harm to public trust, and sanctions of the parties to the extent of the law."
Special professional organizations considered the crisis as a degradation of the societal system as a whole. The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) Chairman Emin Koramaz presents this case as a threat to the collective future of society: "The diploma forgery scandal is damaging public trust in public service. is not an isolated action, but clear evidence for degradation of this system."
Written by: Ibrahim Alparslan Ekmekci
Edited by: Leyla Hacıoğlu
