TMSF Takes Over Klon Payment and PBM Tech in Turkey

Turkey’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, known as TMSF, has been appointed as trustee to take control of Klon Payment (Klon Ödeme Kuruluşu A.Ş.) and PBM Tech (PBM Tech Bilişim A.Ş.) as part of a high-profile investigation into illegal betting networks and suspected money laundering.

Authorities say the decision was made by court order and aims to secure company assets and monitor financial flows while the investigation continues. The case includes detention warrants for 19 suspects, with coordinated operations reported across multiple provinces, including Istanbul and several other cities.

What the Investigation Is About

Prosecutors are examining allegations linked to:

• Facilitating illegal sports betting and gambling activity

• Money laundering involving proceeds from crime

• Organized crime-related activity tied to financial operations

According to the investigation narrative reflected in public reporting, Klon Payment is suspected of providing payment infrastructure that was used to route transactions connected to illegal betting activity. These are allegations under investigation, not final court rulings.

Why Virtual POS Systems Are at the Center of the Case

The most critical claims focus on virtual POS payment infrastructure, commonly used for card payments in e-commerce. Investigators reportedly flagged transaction patterns that may indicate illegal betting-related payment processing, including:

• High transaction intensity during late-night hours, especially between midnight and early morning

• Large volumes of small-value transfers occurring repeatedly within short timeframes

• Multiple accounts involved in rapid incoming and outgoing money movements

• Unusual account activity soon after accounts were opened

• Payment references and descriptions allegedly containing terms such as “betting,” “casino,” “gambling,” and “slot”

These patterns are generally treated by financial crime investigators as potential warning signs of concealed gambling payments, particularly when combined with irregular account behavior.

PBM Tech’s Alleged Role in the Money Flow

Another key part of the case relates to how funds reportedly moved after entering the system.

Investigators reportedly suspect that a significant share of the money processed through Klon Payment was transferred to accounts linked to PBM Tech, described as an affiliated company. From there, funds were allegedly routed onward to individual accounts and then converted into cash through high-value withdrawals.

In financial crime investigations, such multi-step transfers can raise concerns about layering, a method often associated with money laundering where funds are moved through several accounts to make tracing more difficult.

Who Are Klon Payment and PBM Tech

Klon Payment is known in Turkey as a licensed payment services company operating under the country’s payment services framework. Companies in this category typically provide services such as payment processing and merchant acquiring, which can include tools like virtual POS systems for online transactions.

PBM Tech is presented in public coverage as a related technology company connected to Klon Payment’s operations, and is mentioned in the case mainly in relation to the suspected transfer chain.

What It Means When TMSF Takes Control

The appointment of TMSF as trustee is a legal mechanism used in Turkey to place companies under temporary state supervision during major financial crime investigations. In practice, this step is generally intended to:

• Protect assets and prevent asset flight

• Freeze or closely monitor financial activity

• Preserve evidence and reduce the risk of tampering

• Keep operations under control while legal procedures move forward

The final legal outcome will depend on the investigation, potential indictments, and court decisions.

Why This Case Matters for Turkey’s Fight Against Illegal Betting

Turkey has stepped up enforcement against illegal betting platforms, and authorities increasingly focus on the payment infrastructure that enables these networks to collect money. Virtual POS tools, payment intermediaries, and rapid transfer chains have become key areas of scrutiny.

The Klon Payment and PBM Tech case is being closely watched because it highlights how regulators and law enforcement are targeting not only gambling operators but also the financial pathways used to process and move funds.

If the investigation expands, further legal steps such as additional detentions or formal charges could follow.