Phone scam ring busted, €1.3m stolen
Raids in Athens, Aharnes, Corinth and Heraklion led to the arrest of seven suspects, while police are searching for a 23-year-old woman believed to be involved.
According to police, the group had been operating since at least December 2025, targeting victims across the country, including in northern regions such as Thessaloniki. In total, 41 people were defrauded of around €1.29 million.
Authorities said the gang operated with a structured, two-part system: a call center near Corinth that targeted mostly elderly or vulnerable individuals, and mobile teams dispatched nationwide to collect cash and valuables once victims had been deceived.
Posing as accountants, scammers convinced victims to hand over money, jewelry, or banking details, often claiming assets needed to be registered to avoid taxation.
Pickup teams then collected the proceeds, using rented or third-party vehicles to evade detection. Police described the group as “organized and professional,” with multiple operational units ready to act across Greece at short notice.
All suspects face charges including fraud, computer fraud, money laundering, and aggravated theft.
Phone scams targeting vulnerable individuals remain widespread in Greece, but officials said this operation marks one of the largest crackdowns in recent months.
