In the capture of one 36-year-old man who is accused of fraud against two citizens, its police officers proceeded at noon yesterday Security Sub-Directorate of Heraklion. Eight cases of attempted telephone fraud were also discovered, for which a case file was filed against him, as well as against a foreigner.

According to the police, the day before yesterday (11.07.2024) unknown perpetrators contacted the citizen couple by phone and under the pretext that a relative had been involved in a traffic accident, proceeded to defraud them by obtaining an illegal financial benefit. In particular, impersonating the doctor and presenting false facts as true, they claimed that due to a traffic accident their daughter is hospitalized and needs immediate surgery. Taking advantage of their intense emotional charge, they demanded the payment of a sum of money, which the victim handed over to an unknown person following telephone instructions from the perpetrators, thus managing to extract the sum of money from her 20,500 euros.

From the police investigation and preliminary investigation, identified the citizen as the perpetrator who received the above amount of money, while from the preliminary police investigation it emerged that at least from 10.07.2024 the 36-year-old man and another foreigner, cooperated with the purpose of committing fraud on a continuous basis, and obtaining an illegal financial benefit, committing additional cases of attempted fraud.

As far as the methodology of their action is concerned, after they called en masse for an indefinite period of time to random fixed telephone connections of mainly elderly people, invoking the status of a doctor and allegedly injuring a relative, they caused them particular confusion and fear, persuading them to pay money for the required surgery – recovery of their loved ones.

Immediately, following a coordinated police operation, he was searched for, located and arrested by police officers of the above Service, while the sum of 18,195 euros was found in his possession, which was attributed to the victims. The preliminary investigation continues by the Security Directorate of Heraklion. The General Regional Police Directorate of Crete, on the occasion of the above incident and with the aim of avoiding deception of citizens by astute persons, advises to be especially careful in cases where, by telephone, unknown persons (presenting themselves as representatives of agencies or employees of Services) ask them for the payment of sums of money or the provision of account details or codes, to carry out transactions.

Also, to immediately inform the police authorities in any case that they perceive such behavior, even in the case of attempted fraud against them, noting at the same time that advice on avoiding fraud is available on the official website of the Hellenic Police (www.hellenicpolice.gr) in the Citizen’s Guide section.