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Theft in Greece: Scammers target elderly for millions in gold
Greece is experiencing a surge in sophisticated phone scams targeting the elderly, resulting in massive financial losses. In Thessaloniki, an 88-year-old woman was defrauded of approximately 4.7 million euros. Perpetrators posing as employees of the local electricity company and the municipality kept the victim on the phone for several hours, using the threat of electrocution to convince her to bag her valuables. The thieves eventually entered her apartment and stole 4,766 gold sovereigns, weighing roughly 38 kilograms, along with other jewelry.
Similar incidents have been reported in other regions. In Lamia, a 76-year-old woman lost 15,000 euros in jewelry after scammers used a pretext involving a 'tax office satellite' that would supposedly record cash and valuables in homes. Additionally, an 80-year-old woman in Stavroupoli was targeted by scammers posing as electricity technicians, resulting in the theft of 30,000 euros in gold and cash.
The Hellenic Police are investigating these cases, noting that the criminals often change phone numbers and use highly coordinated tactics to exploit the fear and trust of elderly citizens.
Entities
Hellenic Police · Konstantina Demoglidou · Lamia · Municipality of Thessaloniki · Public Power Corporation · Public Power Corporation (DEI) · Thessaloniki · White Tower Crime Investigation Department
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The perpetrators kept the victim on the phone for approximately four hours. fimotro.gr · www.tokarfi.gr · www.newsbomb.gr · www.zougla.gr
- [● 7 SOURCES] The theft in Thessaloniki is one of the largest fraud-based thefts investigated by the Hellenic Police. dete.gr · fimotro.gr · www.kapa-news.gr · www.tokarfi.gr · www.larissanet.gr · +2 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The scammers posed as employees of the Thessaloniki electricity company and warned of an electrocution risk. dete.gr · fimotro.gr · www.kapa-news.gr · www.tokarfi.gr · www.agrinionews.gr · +4 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The stolen gold weighed approximately 38 kilograms. dete.gr · fimotro.gr · www.kapa-news.gr · www.tokarfi.gr · www.larissanet.gr · +3 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] A 76-year-old woman in Lamia was defrauded of 15,000 euros in jewelry using a 'tax office satellite' scam. cretaone.gr · www.gargalianoionline.gr · www.athensmagazine.gr
- [DISPUTED] An 80-year-old woman in Stavroupoli, Thessaloniki, was defrauded of 30,000 euros in gold and cash. www.megatv.com · www.newsit.gr · pelop.gr · www.tanea.gr
- [● 13 SOURCES] The value of the stolen gold sovereigns and jewelry is estimated at approximately 4.7 million euros. dete.gr · fimotro.gr · www.kapa-news.gr · www.tokarfi.gr · www.larissanet.gr · +8 more
- [DISPUTED] An 88-year-old woman in Thessaloniki lost 4,766 gold sovereigns and jewelry. dete.gr · fimotro.gr · www.kapa-news.gr · www.tokarfi.gr · www.larissanet.gr · +8 more