High tech fraudsters in Tripoli: How they got 2 million euros through e-banking – The hotel in Mykonos and the “Hookahs”

A hotel in Mykonos, accommodation companies and doctors were among the victims of the “high tech” criminal organization that was dismantled and whose members were systematically committing electronic frauds, with victims in various parts of Greece, after a thorough and months-long investigation by the Tripoli Security Department. .

In order to dismantle the criminal organization, large-scale parallel police operations were carried out today (23/6) in areas of Corinth and Viotia, by police officers of the Tripoli Security Department, in collaboration with police officers of the Argolida, Arcadia, Corinth and Viotia Police Departments. arrested -5 – locals, aged 22 to 32, members of the criminal organization.

The investigation so far revealed that the above, during this period, had committed a total of eighty-five (85) cases of fraud, gaining from their criminal activity an illegal property gain exceeding -2,050,000-euros.

Indicatively, the gang managed to extract the amount of 375,000 euros from a hotel in Mykonos, more than 200,000 euros from a company with accommodation, 65,000 from a dentist in Thessaloniki, while a physiotherapist saw him “make wings” from his account the amount of 15,000 euros.

After telephone or internet communication, the gang members were introduced as potential customers in companies, mainly hotels, accommodation or doctors, expressing interest in buying their products – services and after asking for their account number, they were told to click on a link to complete the deposit. which was presented as a platform of the respective bank that the owners had and after entering their details and codes, they took money from him.

A case was filed against them for setting up a criminal organization, fraud, computer fraud, illegal access to information system or data, forgery of certificates, prevention and suppression of money laundering.

The investigation so far revealed that the above, during this period, had committed a total of eighty-five (85) cases of fraud, gaining from their criminal activity an illegal property gain exceeding -2,050,000-euros.

Regarding the chronology of the dismemberment, from a police investigation carried out by the Security Department of Tripoli, utilizing appropriate and combined data as well as results of natural and technical methods, it emerged that the above, from October 2021 until today, had formed a criminal organization. which by acting with a specific methodology and using specific tricks, managed to deceive unsuspecting citizens, thus earning large sums of money.

The hierarchy of the gang

The organization had a hierarchical structure, with constant action and distinct roles. A 28-year-old detainee led the way, giving orders to other members on how to act, who in turn recruited money mules to hand over the management of their accounts to the organization.

How they acted

Their main modes of action were:

a) search and locate, via the internet, accommodation and rooms for rent;

b) telephone communication with doctors, in order to be examined for an alleged fee; and

c) telephone and internet communication with sellers, where they were introduced as potential buyers, expressing interest in buying their products.

Then, under the pretext of immediate payment of money to the victims’ bank account, they artificially extracted the necessary information and identification codes to enter their electronic banking (username, personal codes, bank account numbers, transaction confirmation codes, etc.).

Having now gained access to the victims ‘electronic application, they transferred money from the victims’ bank accounts to the accounts of those they had recruited (money mules).

Also, in many of the fraud cases, the perpetrators used fraudulent hyperlinks – pop-up pages (phishing mails, phishing sites, smising), thus managing to extract the personal data of the electronic bank accounts of the victims.

How they laundered money

In order to cover up their illegal activities and to divert the investigations of the prosecuting authorities, the members used many telephone connections, which were not declared in their real data, but in data of foreign nationals of third countries (“straw people” – ghost persons).

Code names

They even used the code names “hookahs” when referring to money or “irons” for cards as well as the words “yellow”, “beer” and “epsilon” when referring to specific banks.

What was found in the investigations

Finally, in searches carried out in the homes of the members of the criminal organization, -3- vehicles, a computer, a number of mobile phones and sim cards, a number of bank cards as well as the amount of -5,165- euros were found and confiscated.

The arrested will be taken to the Prosecutor of the Corinth Court of First Instance, while the police investigation and the preliminary investigation are being continued by the Tripoli Security Department, in order to verify their possible participation in committing similar crimes.

EL.AS conspiracies to avoid cases of fraud

It is reminded that the following useful tips for avoiding cases of fraud have been posted on the website of the Greek Police (www.hellenicpolice.gr):

• Do not be easily persuaded by people who “approach” you as acquaintances of relatives – friends.
• Be especially wary of strangers trying to enter your home under various pretexts and tricks.
• If a stranger enters your home under any pretext (eg conducting a survey, selling a product, needing to make a call, etc.), do not allow them to move to other areas of your home other than what is needed. never lose eye contact with him.
• In this case, take care of your personal belongings, in order to avoid the possibility of their removal by the method of employment.
• Be especially cautious when strangers try to persuade you to pay a sum of money, under the pretext of an emergency relative – friend (eg hospitalization). The same can be tried over the phone. For the same reasons do not give in to prompts for a meeting (appointment, etc.).
• In cases where strangers invoke the emergency of an acquaintance-relative of yours, always seek to contact your acquaintance-relative by phone, to confirm what they invoke. The communication should be done on your own phone and on your own initiative and you should not accept talking to a person, who was called by strangers.
• In any case, state that you are not going to hand over money unless your acquaintances-relatives show up.
• Under no circumstances should strangers take you to a Credit Shop or ATM to withdraw money.
• Do not be easily persuaded by occasional purchases of products offered by strangers, especially without seeing these products first.
• Do not be persuaded by strangers, who appear to be Civil Servants or other personnel to fix a technical problem, unless you have called them before.
• Do not be persuaded when strangers ask you to pay money for debts of acquaintances or relatives to public services or to shops-companies to buy goods-offer services.
• It is pointed out that hospitals or public services do not use the practice of their employees going to homes or public places and asking citizens to pay for services they provide.
• Always have the telephone numbers available, which you must contact in case of emergency (Police, Fire Department, Hospitals, close relatives, etc.).
• Try to restrain the characteristics of the perpetrators, as well as the vehicles they drive (registration number, vehicle make, color, etc.), to assist the work of law enforcement authorities.
• Always inform the police authorities, even in the event of an attempted fraud against you.

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