Greek Court Holds Bank Responsible for Online Card Scam

A Greek court ruled that a bank must repay 5,674 euros lost by 71‑year‑old retiree Antonis Anipsis after he fell victim to an email‑based card fraud in 2022. The victim had been directed to a counterfeit banking site, entered his card details, and saw four unauthorized transfers within hours. The court found the fraud resulted from shortcomings in the bank’s electronic security systems, noting the victim did not display “heavy negligence.”

The decision follows a prior ruling in April 2026 involving a diagnostic laboratory in Xanthi that also suffered a cyber‑theft of 75,000 euros, with the money routed through accounts in Ireland, Germany, Cyprus and Lithuania. In both cases, the courts held the banks liable for failing to detect and block suspicious transactions despite having a duty to investigate transaction patterns and security alerts. The bank’s defence argued the victim’s carelessness and the lack of a one‑time password (OTP) provision, but the judges rejected this stance.

These judgments set a precedent for higher scrutiny of banking security measures in Greece and may influence future consumer protection claims against financial institutions.