A huge fraud of thousands of Roma victims came to light. Starring, a town -based accountant in the Prefecture of Karditsa, who managed the tax cases of more than 4,000 gypsies from every corner of Greece – from Thessaloniki and Larissa, to Kalamata, Sparta and Volos.

Citing his “specialization” on social benefits and benefits, he managed to gain the confidence of his customers – to deceive them, systematically and quietly, as dozens of victims claim.

The method of fraud

According to thenewspaper, the accountant, taking advantage of the lack of digital literacy of many victims, changed the passwords to Taxisnet, while in the second phase it replaced the bank accounts that had been declared for the payment of benefits, such as the Market Pass, A21,

Instead of the personal bank deposits of the beneficiaries, there were a new IBAN or even addresses for sending cash through ELTA, to which he appeared as a recipient. Thus, for many months – probably and for years – he systematically received the money of his customers, without them knowing anything.

Damage: Over 3 million euros

As the president of the Panthessal Union “Roma Without Borders”, Panagiotis Haritos, complains to thenewspaper.gr, the financial loss resulting from the first recordings reaches 3,000,000 euros, and in some cases each person’s deception reaches 4,000 euros.

Mr. Haritos stresses: We are talking about systematic exploitation of people who trusted a professional to manage the few are entitled by the state. It is not just a fraud, but a moral crime against families living on the limit. “

The perpetrator disappeared – settled in Athens

His action was revealed in recent days, when several beneficiaries found that they had not received benefits for which they had been approved, despite the relevant Taxisnet posts. The accountant was unexpectedly closed his office in Karditsa and – according to complaints – moved to Athens, where he seems to be trying to escape responsibility.

The Panthessal Union “Roma Without Borders” has already filed a formal complaint to the Karditsa Association, and a report will be followed on Friday, calling for a complete investigation of the case and activating the control mechanisms.

Disruption to Roma communities across the country

The news of fraud has caused disruption to dozens of Roma settlements from Volos and Larissa, to Sparta, Katerini, Kalamata and Thessaloniki, where dozens of families are in despair, failing to secure basic survival expenses.

The case is expected to take on dimensions of a national scandal, with the competent authorities being called upon to move immediately and effectively. Questions, however, remain on how such an extensive network of falsification of data and state aid was left for so long with the audit services. TheNewspaper.gr tried to contact the accountant, but his declared mobile phone has an incoming call bar, while the landline phone does not work.