The Police in Lesbos and Samos proceeded to arrest members of organized circles that were deceiving the elderly and extorting large sums of money from them.

A 31-year-old citizen was arrested yesterday, Saturday, October 18, in Mytilini by police officers of the Mytilini Crime Investigation and Prosecution Sub-Directorate, accused of joining and participating in a criminal organization and attempted fraud.

In particular and according to the data of the investigation, members of the specific ring contacted by phone, during the previous two days, three local women (72 years old, 83 years old and 80 years old), in Mytilini as well as in the areas of Moria and Panayouda in Lesvospretending to be a doctor on a case-by-case basis and under the pretext of the immediate need for surgery on relatives, convinced the 72-year-old to hand over to the 31-year-old perpetrator the sum of 4,000 euros and the 83-year-old to deliver to the latter the amount of money 8,000 euros and 90 US dollars, while they unsuccessfully attempted to defraud the 80-year-old woman in the same way.

During the further investigation of these cases, it emerged that the 31-year-old recently joined a criminal group, consisting of at least seven more people, with a specific structure, continuous action and distinct roles, with the sole purpose of deceiving citizens, in order to obtain an illegal financial benefit.

As part of the investigations into these cases, the sum of 5,000 euros, which as it emerged came from illegal activity, was confiscated, as well as the 31-year-old’s mobile phone. Investigations are ongoing in order to determine the connections and scope of the illegal activity of this criminal network.

Also yesterday Saturday October 18 at Samofrom the Samos Crime Investigation and Prosecution Directorate, four fraud cases (one committed and three attempted) were immediately investigated and resolved. After a thorough investigation, two citizens (a 30-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman) were identified as members of an organized ring for their involvement in these cases, one of whom was arrested today, Sunday, October 19, in Samos.

In particular, as emerged from the police investigation, an unknown perpetrator contacted an 83-year-old resident of Samos by phone yesterday, pretending to be an accountant and using false facts as true, he managed to convince her to deliver to the 30-year-old, who went to her home in a short time, with I.X. passenger car, together with the 30-year-old, jewelry and valuables worth approximately 20,000 euros, as well as the amount of 40,000 euros.

The police investigation also revealed that the two aforementioned perpetrators, acting with the same method, are involved in three more cases of attempted fraud against citizens, residents of Samos.

During the further investigation of these cases, it was determined that the 30-year-old man and the 30-year-old woman joined a criminal group, with a specific structure, continuous action and distinct roles, with the sole purpose of systematically deceiving citizens, in order to obtain an illegal financial benefit.

In the possession of the 30-year-old, when he was located by the police, jewelry, valuables, as well as the sum of 39,800 euros, which, as it emerged, came from illegal activity, were found and confiscated.

The criminal case filed in the case of Samos also includes the offenses of membership and participation in a criminal organization and fraud (committed and attempted).