A group of 20 people was detained in Turkey, who stole money from bank cards of foreign tourists vacationing in the country. The total amount of damage was about USD 29 million, writes the Anadolu agency.

According to the Kusadasi resort Prosecutor’s Office, an investigation was launched after numerous complaints from injured tourists. The arrests took place after four months of surveillance in Aydin, Antalya, Izmir, Mugla and Istanbul.

According to preliminary data, 268 foreigners suffered from the gang’s actions.

The organizer of the criminal scheme was the owner of a hotel in Kusadasi, who transferred the details of the guests’ bank cards to his accomplices from other hotels and car rental companies. Some members of the group gained access to information during their trips abroad. The criminals laundered the illegally obtained money through the purchase of real estate.