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27 clusters · 110 sources · 85 days · First seen 3 months ago · Last updated 3 days ago

Elderly telephone fraud scams in Greece and Turkey

Overview

Since July 2024, Greek police have conducted numerous operations against telephone-fraud rings targeting senior citizens. Previous investigations in areas such as Kastoria, Ioannina, and Achaea dismantled networks using impersonation of accountants, doctors, or utility staff to steal cash and jewellery. In August 2026, several high-value incidents were reported. In Boeotia, a 90-year-old woman lost €400,000 and jewellery after being told tax authorities were using a “recording satellite” to detect valuables; a 93-year-old woman in a nearby village lost €5,000 and jewellery via the same method. In Patras, a 91-year-old woman was targeted by a two-step tactic involving death threats followed by a call from someone impersonating a police officer; she lost €8,000 in cash and €20,000 in jewellery after hiding them under a trash bin. Law enforcement has continued to dismantle these networks. In Messenia, police dismantled a criminal organization of nine individuals, aged 21 to 33, who operated between March and July 2026. By impersonating employees of the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DEDDIE) and claiming imminent risks of explosion, the group stole an estimated €381,475 and 4,600 Canadian dollars. In Agios Dimitrios, three men were arrested for defrauding an 88-year-old man by impersonating electricity provider employees; they convinced him to drop jewellery and cash from a balcony into a bag. In Agrinio, an off-duty officer intervened during an extortion attempt where a duo stole €5,000 and €25,000 worth of jewellery from an 80-year-old man by convincing him to leave the items in his courtyard. Additionally, in the Athens area, authorities dismantled a group in Nea Smyrni and Palaio Faliro where a leader posed as an accountant to secure fraudulent “tax refunds or retroactive pensions.” In early September 2026, an 80-year-old woman in Thessaloniki’s Stavroupoli district was defrauded for a second time.

Entities

Hellenic Police · DEDDIE · Pieria · Greek Police · Agios Dimitrios Police Station

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Ms. Vivi described the incident to Mega. e-thessalia.gr · seleo.gr · www.athensmagazine.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] Scammers impersonated Paul de Greece and his treasurer. e-thessalia.gr · seleo.gr · www.athensmagazine.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] The scammers claimed the victim was selected to receive 26,000 euros. e-thessalia.gr · seleo.gr · www.athensmagazine.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] The victim did not lose any money. e-thessalia.gr · seleo.gr · www.athensmagazine.gr
[● 2 SOURCES] The scammers requested a deposit of between 280 and 350 euros. e-thessalia.gr · seleo.gr
[● 2 SOURCES] The scammers used a Viber video call to show a face appearing to be Paul de Greece. e-thessalia.gr · seleo.gr
[● 2 SOURCES] The video call used artificial intelligence to simulate movement without sound. e-thessalia.gr · seleo.gr
[● 2 SOURCES] The scammers continued to call the victim for approximately one month. e-thessalia.gr · seleo.gr

Timeline

3 days ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Rhodes police arrest two for impersonating accountants in fraud scheme
Two men were arrested in Greece after a gang in Rhodes defrauded citizens by impersonating accountants to steal cash and jewelry.
5 days ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Pyrgos: Man arrested for attempting to scam elderly woman
A man was arrested in Pyrgos, Greece, after attempting to scam an elderly woman by impersonating an accountant to steal her money. Police intercepted the suspect following a failed getaway attempt.
6 days ago

[CRIME] 4 sources
Paul de Greece impersonation scam targets elderly woman in Kalamos
An elderly woman in Kalamos, Greece, thwarted an AI-powered scam where fraudsters impersonated Paul de Greece to solicit a fake 26,000 euro grant.
8 days ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Greece: Authorities warn of rising telephone and AI-driven scams
Greek authorities are warning of rising telephone scams involving impersonation of the police and celebrities using AI-generated messages and video calls to defraud citizens.
10 days ago

[CRIME] 17 sources
Greek police dismantle organized fraud rings in Zefyri and Crete
Greek police dismantled two organized crime rings: a sophisticated call center in Zefyri impersonating utility workers and an accounting scam targeting elderly citizens in Crete.
14 days ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Thessaloniki: 80-year-old woman defrauded of cash and jewelry
An 80-year-old woman in Thessaloniki was defrauded of 2,700 euros and silver jewelry by scammers impersonating her accountant.
15 days ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Greece police dismantle criminal groups posing as accountants to defraud elderly
Greek police have arrested members of criminal organizations posing as accountants to defraud elderly citizens of cash and valuables in multiple regions, including Nea Smyrni and Agrinio.
18 days ago

[CRIME] 4 sources
Agios Dimitrios: Three arrested for defrauding 88-year-old man
Three men were arrested in Agios Dimitrios after posing as electricity workers to steal jewelry and cash from an 88-year-old man by tricking him into dropping the items from his balcony.
19 days ago

[CRIME] 8 sources
Messenia criminal group dismantled for 381,000 euro fraud and theft
Police in Messenia, Greece, dismantled a criminal group of nine individuals who defrauded elderly citizens by impersonating utility workers, netting over 381,000 euros through scams and thefts.
21 days ago

[CRIME] 6 sources
Greek police arrest two for elderly fraud scheme
Two men were arrested in Greece for operating a criminal organization that impersonated accountants to defraud elderly citizens in Nea Smyrni and Palaio Faliro.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 8 sources
Greece: Police arrest suspects in smuggling, fraud, and arson cases
Greek police have arrested multiple suspects in connection with human smuggling rings, telephone fraud schemes targeting the elderly, and intentional arson incidents across various regions.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 5 sources
Boeotia: Scammers steal €400,000 and jewelry from elderly women
Two elderly women in Boeotia, Greece, were defrauded of hundreds of thousands of euros and jewelry after scammers impersonating accountants claimed tax satellites were monitoring their homes.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Elis, Greece: Man arrested after failed elderly fraud attempt
A 31-year-old man was arrested in Elis, Greece, after attempting to scam an elderly woman by posing as an accountant. The victim alerted police, leading to a confrontation and the suspect's arrest.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 7 sources
Greek police bust telephone‑scam ring targeting elderly in Florina and western Greece
Greek police arrested a 60‑year‑old collector and two young suspects, breaking a telephone‑scam ring that stole up to €120,000 from elderly victims in western Greece and Florina.
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Kilkis police chase over phone fraud injures two officers and victim
In Kilkis, Greece, police chasing two telephone‑fraud suspects ran over two officers and a 50‑year‑old victim; one suspect was arrested, the other remains at large.
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Elderly Greek man duped in phone scam forced to deliver €37,000 in Athens
An 83‑year‑old man from Kastoria was duped by a telephone scam, forced to travel to Athens and hand over roughly €37,000 after fraudsters pretended to be tax officials.
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Greek police dismantle telephone‑fraud ring in Kastoria, arrest several suspects
Greek police in Kastoria busted a telephone‑fraud gang after a woman reported a scam, arresting a 22‑year‑old “collector,” two minors and another adult, seizing €8,200, gold, a car and phones; three more accomp
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 4 sources
Antalya Elderly Woman Saved from Phone Scam by Daughter
In Antalya, Turkey, a daughter intercepted a phone scam on her elderly mother, who had been targeted by a caller posing as a police officer and threatening with political intimidation.
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 19 sources
Greek police dismantle organized telephone‑fraud rings targeting elderly
Greek police arrested members of organized telephone‑fraud rings that duped elderly women across Chios, Lamia, Volos and other areas, seizing cash and jewelry worth over €110 000.
2 months ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Greek police arrest foreign fraudster in €270,000 telephone scam targeting Ioannina and Metsovo seniors
Greek police arrested a foreign fraudster who, posing as tax officials, scammed four seniors in Ioannina and Metsovo out of about €270,000, seizing cash and a gold ring.
2 months ago

[CRIME] 12 sources
Greece busts three criminal gangs that defrauded elderly of over €410,000
Greek police broke up three gangs that posed as electricity‑company staff, defrauding seniors of more than €410,000 and arresting four core members.
2 months ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Kozani police arrest two suspects in telephone fraud targeting elderly woman
Kozani police arrested a 30‑year‑old woman and a 31‑year‑old man on July 7, 2026 for attempting a telephone scam on an 85‑year‑old resident, seizing their car, phones and €105.
2 months ago

[CRIME] 5 sources
Greek electricity provider DEHDE warns of phone scams impersonating staff
DEHDE warns that scammers posing as its staff call from unknown numbers to demand cash, valuables or appliance data; the utility never asks for money and urges verification via its 800‑400‑4000 hotline.
2 months ago

[CRIME] 6 sources
22-year-old arrested in Kifisia for €120,000 telephone fraud targeting elderly
A 22‑year‑old was arrested in Kifisia for a €120,000 phone fraud that duped an elderly woman into giving cash and gold, using a fake electricity‑company warning.
2 months ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Greek police investigate telephone scams that defrauded elderly of cash, gold and jewelry
Greek police arrested a man in Ihgoumenitsa and are probing a related scam in Pieria, where fraudsters posing as accountants duped elderly women out of cash, gold and jewellery worth over €200,000.
3 months ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Varkiza, Greece police chase ends in crash after utility‑employee scam
In Varkiza, Greece, two scammers pretending to be electricity‑company workers were chased by police, causing a multi‑car crash; they fled on foot and remain at large while investigators examine their vehicle.
3 months ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Greece Police Detain Suspects in Fraud and Armed Robbery Cases
Greek police arrested a 28‑year‑old for fraud targeting seniors in Almyros and a 41‑year‑old Turkish man for robbery and attempted murder in Argostoli, both cases under investigation.

Sources

072info.com · 24ur.com · 360stepeni.mk · agrinionews.gr · alfavita.gr · alphatv.gr · anagnostis.org · argolikeseidhseis.gr · argumenti.rs · athensmagazine.gr · atvbl.rs · bizznews.gr · bloko.gr · bug.ba · bursahaber.com · businessdaily.gr · chiosnews.com · cnn.gr · cretaone.gr · dalmacijadanas.hr · dalmacijanews.hr · dalmatinskiportal.hr · dimokratia.gr · dimokratianews.gr · dnews.gr · domzalec.si · e-ptolemeos.gr · e-thessalia.gr · e-vima.gr · efsyn.gr · enikos.gr · epirus-tv-news.gr · ertnews.gr · evima.gr · fishscience.com · flamis.gr · fonimaleviziou.gr · galerie-schwind.de · gargalianoionline.gr · grtimes.gr · hairstory.com.hk · haschcon.com · hip.ba · iefimerida.gr · ikarianews.gr · imerazante.gr · index.hr · irafina.gr

This summary has been updated 17 times: see revision history