Who is Rifat Özdemir? Turkish man's resemblance to Epstein causes trouble

Published February 9th, 2026 - 09:55 GMT
Rifat Özdemir
This undated handout photo obtained July 8, 2019, courtesy of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Departmant shows Jeffrey Epstein. A hedge fund billionaire has been arrested on sex trafficking charges in the New York area, after having long been followed by accusations of molesting young girls, US media reported. Photo by HANDOUT / PALM BEACH COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT / AFP

ALBAWABA - A Turkish man appeared on one of the TV channels in the country begging for help over his huge resumbalnce with American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who was arrested in 2019, charged with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Justice released a new set of Epstein files: three million pages, 180,000 images, in addition to 2,000 videos, causing a stir around the globe as a new list of prominent personnel linked to the American sex offender was unveiled amidst conspiracy theories that Epstein is alive.

Many claimed that Epstein is still alive and that he didn't commit suicide in jail as announced in 2019, allegedly saying a man who looks like him was spotted in Tel Aviv, Israel. In addition, several accounts on social media claimed that his Fortnite.

Who is Rifat Özdemir? Turkish man's resemblance to Epstein causes trouble

A Turkish man named Rifat Özdemir complained that he is facing many stares from people in the streets over his huge resemblance to Jeffrey Epstein.

Özdemir, 55, is from the city of Kayseri. He said that he is considering changing his external look; for instance, getting a new haircut and clothes style, to avoid being linked to the sex offender. 

He said in the interview, "I am not Epstein," adding, "I don't want to be compared to such a person. Don't compare me to those people. I am just an ordinary citizen who is working hard. There may be a resemblance. Mine is an unfortunate event. We resemble him."