More evidence is released on how to act by the transnational criminal organization that has committed telephone fraud and deceived thousands of citizens with their turnover estimating 8m euros.

It is noted that the Northern Greece Organized Crime Division participated yesterday (03/06), through the Department of Financial Crimes, on a Joint Action Day (JAD), under the coordination of Eurojust and with the help of Europol, at the request of the German authorities.

A total of 3 people were arrested, of which 2 in our country

The operation was carried out at the same time by law enforcement in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia, while in our country the investigations were assisted by judicial officers and police officers of the Regional Police Directorate of Eastern Macedonia – Thrace, the Department of Criminal Investigations.

In total, on the joint day of action, 3 people were arrested with European arrest warrants, of which 2 of which in our country (25 and 43 years old) and 1 in Austria, while more than 35 spaces, 39 suspicious people, were investigated.

In our country, the company took place in Komotini, Thessaloniki and Trikala Imathias, where relevant investigations were carried out in 15 houses, 2 vehicles and one two -wheeled motorcycle, while 17 people were received, from which unnecessary deposits were obtained.

In particular, the case concerns a transnational criminal organization, whose members, acting at least since November 2015, has been managing a network of call centers established in Turkey, with the main aim of deceiving German citizens and gaining significant illegal economic benefits.

As to how the call centers were communicating with German citizens, informing them that they had won gifts in competitions and persuaded them to contract for a magazine subscription to continue to have other gifts.

After the expiry of a period, they were announced that they had forgotten to report the contract and that their debt was pending.

Indeed, in order to achieve their purpose and deceive their victims, the suspects reported bank employees and police officers.

The 25 -year -old and 43 -year -old arrested in Greece allegedly had a key role as they deceived a large number of citizens and had their bank accounts to collect and distribute illegal revenue.

What was found in investigations

During the investigations in our country, they were found and seized:

  • mobile phones,
  • portable digital data storage means,
  • bank cards,
  • laptops
  • gold and valuables,
  • 2 cars and motorcycle, as well as
  • numerous documents related to the case.

30,000 cases have been solved – 8 million euros the damage

So far the German authorities have been resolved by -30,000 – cases of deception with the total loss estimated at 8m euros, while the investigation is continuing for more than 170 people who are suspected of online fraud throughout Europe and money laundering.

The seized digital evidence will be handed over to the German authorities for further analysis, the vehicles will be stored by the competent customs authority, while the goldsmiths, after assessing their value, will be attributed to the Deposits and Loans Fund.

The detainees are taken to the competent prosecutor’s office.