International phone scam ring defrauds over €8 million – Over 30,000 victims, two arrests in Greece

An international criminal organization is believed to have defrauded more than €8 million over the past decade through a series of sophisticated phone scams. Investigations into the group’s activities were launched early this morning across multiple European countries, including Greece, under a European Investigation Order issued by German authorities.

According to German media, over 170 individuals are under investigation for their involvement in the organization. The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Saxony, based in Dresden, is leading the probe, which concerns at least 30,000 cases of fraud, mostly targeting elderly victims both within Germany and abroad.

The suspects allegedly operated a call center, where they impersonated police officers and bank employees to deceive unsuspecting victims. They used fake claims of outstanding debts, forged court orders and notifications, and fabricated debt documents. In some cases, they also lured victims by offering participation in supposed lottery schemes.

Raids were conducted not only in Germany, but also in Greece, Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia, targeting both residential properties and business premises. Authorities seized a significant amount of digital evidence and other materials.

In Greece, officers from the Northern Greece Organized Crime Division carried out searches in 15 homes located in Thessaloniki, Imathia, and Thrace. Two Greek nationals, aged 25 and 43, were arrested in Komotini based on German-issued warrants. The pair is expected to be brought before the Court of Appeals Prosecutor in Komotini to begin the extradition process to Germany.