While riding the train from Eminonou ( ferry pier) to Cemberlitas, we encountered organized pick pockets. They got on I believe at Gulhane and one began approaching my husband who was near the tram doors. I was further into the tram in an aisle. My husband moved back to avoid this individual and when the doors opened at the next stop, Sultanahmet, another man began pointing at my husband yelling in Turkish and tried to pull him out of the tram. My husband pushed him back out of the tram and he kept yelling indicating that my husband had inappropriately touched a woman who was no where near him, near me about 3 meters away. My husband said, get the police, the second man got the transit police so we had to get off before our stop. The second man kept yelling once we were all off the tram while the woman and the first man basically said nothing. The transit police called the regular police and I called our guide who turned around from the Asian side to come back and support us. She also spoke to the transit police. The second man kept up with his story yelling and pointing. The regular police came, took my husband's ID but did not seem in interested in our side of the story perhaps because trying to diffuse the situation but let us go once the other group had moved on. The police said they have cameras on the trams but we never saw footage.
Their pick pocketing distraction scheme having gone awry, I am guessing that the group of 3had to pivot to something else so decided to try and get money from us to drop any charge. They may have chosen my husband because he was standing alone and part from me near the doors. The police eventually let us go but what a waste of time.
So be extra careful on the T1 tram, stay alert and do not stand by the doors.