Impersonation fraud in Greece

Criminal groups in Greece are utilizing impersonation tactics to target citizens for financial and physical theft. In the southern suburbs of Athens, scammers have been posing as utility workers or accountants. These perpetrators use deceptive calls regarding electrical faults or security inventories to manipulate victims into gathering cash and jewelry, which are then stolen during home entries.

In the Grevena region, fraudsters have posed as employees of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE). In one reported incident, a 25-year-old woman lost approximately €108,000. Local police are investigating whether these activities are linked to previous frauds in the village of Karpero.

In a recent development in the Attica region, authorities arrested four individuals, aged 20 to 39, for allegedly operating a criminal organization. Police report the group used a house in Western Attica as a call center, employing “ghost phones” registered to non-existent persons to contact victims. The gang allegedly claimed there was a purported electricity leak, instructing residents to gather valuables in a specific location and move to another room while leaving front doors open for accomplices. The investigation has uncovered one robbery and 15 thefts, with illegal proceeds estimated to exceed 227,000 euros. The suspects face charges including participation in a criminal organization, robbery, theft, fraud, and money laundering.