Police officers arrested a 65-year-old woman from Bulgaria yesterday in the KTEL area of ​​Thessaloniki, who is accused of fraud and attempted fraud.

According to the police, yesterday morning an unknown person called a 69-year-old woman in a village near Veria and, pretending to be a hospital doctor, claimed that the elderly woman’s niece had been injured in an accident and needed money for her surgery. In fact, his female accomplice intervened on the phone, who was crying pretending to be the victim’s niece, in order to make them more convincing. The 69-year-old left at a point – in the city of Veria – where they indicated the sum of 700 euros and jewelry worth 15,000 euros, according to her statement.

After searches, the police found the 65-year-old Bulgarian citizen who left by taxi from Veria and arrived in western Thessaloniki. She was arrested as the aforementioned money and jewelry were found in her possession, which were attributed to the victim. The police investigation established that, acting in the same way, she and her accomplices attempted to defraud, on the same day, two more women in Veria, without however succeeding in extracting money or jewelry. The police investigation continues in order to identify the details of her unknown accomplices, as well as for their possible participation in other similar criminal acts.

The arrested woman, with the case filed against her, is being taken to the District Attorney of Veria.

With the aim of avoiding deception of citizens by astute people, the General Regional Police Directorate of Central Macedonia advises:

-Be especially wary when strangers try to convince you to pay a sum of money, under the pretext of an urgent need for a relative or friend (e.g. hospitalization). They may try the same over the phone. For the same reasons do not give in to invitations to meet (dates, etc.).

– In cases where strangers invoke an emergency of a known relative, always seek to contact your known relative by phone to confirm what they invoke. The communication should be done with your own phone and on your own initiative and you should not accept to speak with a person who was called by strangers.

– In any case, state that you are not going to hand over money if your acquaintances – relatives do not appear.

-Do not under any circumstances accept unknown persons to lead you to a Credit Shop or ATM to withdraw a sum of money.

-It should be noted that hospitals or public services do not use the practice of their employees going to homes or public places and asking citizens to pay money for services they provide.

– Always have available the phone numbers you need to contact in case of emergency (Police, Fire Department, Hospitals, close relatives, etc.).

-Always inform the police authorities, even in the event of an attempted fraud against you.

-Inform friends, relatives and especially the elderly, so they don’t fall victim to fraud.