A fake businessman, who embezzled around four million Turkish liras ($1.1 million) from 35 individuals coming from 22 different Turkish provinces, has been arrested in western Turkey's Bursa.

The suspect, identified as Ersel A. (47) in press releases, hired M.S. (35) as a private chauffeur in 2011. Ersel A. deceived M.S. and many others though claims that he was the contractor of infrastructure projects in several provinces. Ersel A. alleged that he was going to build roads and a dam in Denizli. He was able to convince his victims to support these projects and earned their trust through a display of a luxurious lifestyle and work offers.

Ersel A. cheated M.S. out of TL 250.000, promising $500,000 in return. When he met M. S.'s cousin F.S. in 2016, he was able to take TL 86.000 from him as well. However, F.S. began to suspect Ersel A. of improper practices, asked for a meeting and informed the police about it.

The local police department specializing in theft and fraud dispatched a police squad to the house of the suspect, who, when asked to identify himself, presented a fake passport issued in the name of "İbrahim Özen." After his false identity became exposed, it was reveal that he had been sought by police since 2011 and that in the course of six years he had stolen from 35 people, embezzling some TL 4 million.

The suspect was taken into custody and handed over to the court.