Woman jailed for many years for phone scams with elderly victims – How the criminal group operated

It was an ordinary morning when, in December 2021, the 77-year-old’s mobile phone rang from the Thessaloniki. The old woman’s mind did not go anywhere, since the number that appeared on the screen of the telephone device was unknown. “Good morning, I’m a police officer,” came a male voice on the other end of the line. “Your grandson is in Security. He will go to jail,” continued the supposed policeman in dramatic tones, and in order to be convincing, another male voice – supposedly the grandson’s – was heard in the background pleading, addressing the surprised and agitated old woman: “Grandma, help me out of ‘ look inside”. The 77-year-old had just fallen into the “nets” of a criminal group that was active in telephone scams, draining the savings and arrears of unsuspecting elderly people. More than 30,000 euros were successively extracted from her by the members of the ring.

As it turned out later, there was a ring behind the criminal activity Bulgarians who “plowed” Thessaloniki in search of their potential victims. One of its members was arrested by EL.AS. and was sentenced by the Three-member Criminal Appeal Court of Thessaloniki to a total of 12 years in prison, without mitigating circumstances. This is a 61-year-old woman, who after her conviction returned to prison. Her role seems to have been that of a “collector”, that is, she received the money from the victims. In total, this criminal group committed 17 frauds in a few months, making off with 285,000 euros in cash, 49 pounds of gold and valuables at least 20,000 euros.

One by one the victims, mostly elderly women, testified in Court describing what they experienced. In addition to the trick with the alleged policeman, the perpetrators impersonated the doctors, allegedly claiming that the children of the victims were involved in a car accident and needed to undergo surgeries that required expensive materials. “At that time, the victims are undergoing a great psychological war and under the state of confusion and panic they are easily convinced,” testified a police officer of the Thessaloniki Security Service, who participated in the investigations into the arrest of the 61-year-old woman.

A characteristic of the controversial case was that the “brains” of the group that took over the telephone conversations with the victims – the communication lasted long enough for the line to be “blocked” and the elderly could not address other familiar persons – usually led them to courtyard of the Temple of God Sophia, in the center of Thessaloniki, where they pointed to a trash can to throw the bag with the money and valuables. Under the supervision of another member of the ring, the “collector” would then pass by the spot and collect the loot. “The repeated complaints about the particular place where the money was deposited led us to this place and we put it under surveillance,” the police witness described to the judges, explaining how the “message” of the case unfolded. “She was rummaging through the bins, she was worried. We recorded back-to-back trips to her home country,” he added.

As for the mastermind, according to the same witness, he seems to have been abroad. After removing the phone from the arrested woman, it emerged that she was using a Romanian mobile phone, a practice that is common because, as she explained, in Romania no identification is made of the details of the owners of prepaid mobile phones. So far it has not been possible to locate him and he remains elusive.

In her apology, the defendant denied the acts, declaring ignorance of the ring’s activity. “I was unemployed and looking for a job. I found an ad online. According to her description I would work for an orthopedic surgeon who helps elderly people. I thought it was normal work,” she said. She named a compatriot, with whom she communicated often. “I never met him. He used to tell me “you don’t see me, but I see you”. When I realized that it was illegal work I wanted to stop, but they threatened me that they will harm my daughter and my grandson”, he apologized and apologized to the victims.

The district attorney described her allegations as false, stressing that the defendant acted without hesitation and therefore requested her conviction for all of her actions.

RES-EMP

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