Greek Police informational campaign on fraud

The Greek Police, in order to protect the citizens from their deception, issues relevant press releases, disclosing case details and used Modus Operandi, to the mass information media and the social media that it manages.

At the same time, regional Police Services organize awareness-raising events throughout the country providing information and education to citizens, while providing instructions for complaints in fraud cases.

The Greek Police also has produced and projected through television and radio stations with nationwide coverage, messages in the context of information campaigns for citizens’ protection.

Fraud on the pretext of conducting on-line checks in a Large Software Company Support Center, as engineers:
The offenders, pretending to be the engineers of a Large Software Support Center, indicate to people that are willing to help solving technical problems on their computer or to verify the authenticity of the installed programs on their computer so they can continue using them. In this context, they ask citizens to install a remote access program on their computer. In this way, they access the personal data stored on unsuspecting victim's computer. Therefore, it is reminded to citizens that they have to be especially careful, not to respond to these calls and to not reveal personal information and data to various perpetrators.

Unwanted – missed calls and mobile messages from unknown phone numbers from abroad:
These are missed – unwanted phone calls (SPAM) from unknown premium rate numbers, which are, in purpose, carried out midnight hours to appear deliberately as unanswered. Specifically, according to complaints submitted to Cyber Crime Division of the Hellenic Police, mobile subscribers have received missed calls from Bosnia - Herzegovina and Maldives, with dialing codes (00387) and (00960), respectively.
Read more at: http://www.astynomia.gr/index.php? option=ozo_content&lang=%27..%27&perform=view&id=74672&Itemid=1961&lang=

Fraud cases against shoppers selling pre-paid cards:
The offenders come in telephone contact with landowners of small shops (eg mini-market, kiosks, etc.), pretending to be technical stuff, inform them that their prepaid card machine presents a technical problem.Then, they point out that, in order to resolve this problem, the landowners have to print a certain number of prepaid cards (usually 3-4 cards worth € 100.00) and give them the PIN numbers. Prospective victims are persuaded and give PIN numbers, while the call ends with the offender informing them that within a few hours the problem will be restored. Since then, all communication with the victims has ceased.
Read more at: http://cyberalert.gr/exichniasi-ypothesis-exapatiseon-se-va/

Fraud on the pretext of a car accident in which a relative is involved:
The offenders make sudden phone calls to them, sometimes pretending to be hospital doctors or lawyers or police officers, arguing falsely that their close family member (usually their child) has accidentally caused a car accident, resulting in death or severe injury to a minor child.

In order to avoid the imprisonment of their relatives and to disengage from the upcoming criminal consequences, they require the payment of substantial sums of money, varying in size, adjustable in each case depending on the receptiveness and credulity of the victims.

To become more convincing, other partners are involved in the telephone communication, depending on the gender of their relative, pretending them, imploring for help and exerting unbearable psychological pressure on the victims. Then, if the victims are convinced, they appear in their home to receive the money, or they make an appointment at a place and time predetermined by the offenders, near the house. It should be noted that in the case of car accidents the Police authorities are always subject to lawful and foreseeable actions, under the guidance of the local prosecuting authorities and in no case there is derogation from them, with the payment of money sums.

Fraud with the method of hospitalization of a relative in a hospital:
The offenders make sudden phone calls to the candidate victims and, taking advantage of the inconvenience they cause, announce that a close relative has been urgently driven to a hospital due to a car accident or some other extraordinary reason and demanding money for immediate medical act, usually surgery.

In addition, they ask candidate victims to go straight to a specific point, where they are "waiting for" a nurse or employee of the National Emergency Center to receive the money and deliver them as soon as possible to the doctors.

Victims usually use the same telephone device in which they received the call for calling their relatives in the cell phone, who "supposedly" is hospitalized in critical condition. In their confusion they do not realize that the "line" is still open with the offenders, who did not end the previous call. The offenders pretend to respond to the victims' call and "confirm" the bad news, for example, presenting an operator holding the patient's cell phone.

Fraud against priests by the method of the alleged disbursement of Social Insurance Institution or the settlement of various financial and insurance pending matters:
Offenders choose the candidate victims (priests, clergy, monks) and usually contact them by telephone, inform them that the disbursement from Social Insurance Institution to the religious worship they represent (church, Holy Monastery, etc.) is pending. In other cases, the offenders communicate with retired priests and inform them that all the necessary actions have been initiated for the disbursement of the lump sum pending in their name. In order to achieve the release of the aforementioned funds, they are asked to pay a sum of money to an account in order to begin their disbursement procedures. Victims are persuaded and pay the indicated amount, waiting for the payment of the allowance. At this point the offenders disappear and cut off every communication with their victims.

Fraud on the pretext of mediation for the disbursement of a loan from credit institution:
In this case, the offenders appear to be eminent citizens, Bank Partners, who, taking advantage of their personal acquaintances with Credit Institutions, can mediate for the disbursement of a loan, bypassing the TIRESIAS system.

In order to initiate the loan disbursement process, the offenders ask their victims to pay a sum of money for the expenses. Once the victim has deposited the agreed amount in a Bank account indicated to him, the offender slowly begins to avoid contacting with the victim until he disappears. It has been noticed that the offenders usually attract their perspective victims by posting ads in local newspapers or through common acquaintances who have also fallen victim before they become aware of it.

Fraud on the pretext of bank deposit saver:
The offenders mostly communicate with the victims and pretend to be either the Directors of Credit Institutions or have "links" with them. They persuade them that they can protect their bank deposits from an imminent "haircut". Thus, they ask them to deposit their money in a specific account, in order to take all the necessary steps to protect them. Since then, they disappear.
Read more at: http://www.astynomia.gr/index.php?option=ozo_content&perform=view&id=9876&Itemid=619&lang