Recently, by the Electronic Crime Prosecution Directorate, it has been identified a large number of fraudulent advertisements on social media and websites, with alleged investment programs or alleged “miracle” drugs-preparations, which are allegedly promoted-advertised by highly recognizable and famous persons (politicians, reputable scientists, artists, etc.).

These fraudulent ads appear mostly as “sponsored” ads on social media, falsely claiming, in many cases, to come from articles in reputable newspapers and websites.

At the same time, they are accompanied by realistic audiovisual content, which, however, is a product of digital processing with artificial intelligence applications (Deepfake).

In them, the above-mentioned persons appear urging citizens to invest in supposedly high-yield investment programs (cryptocurrencies, gold, oil, etc.), at the same time expressing alleged personal experiences where they themselves made significant profits.

Correspondingly, in the cases of fraudulent promotion of medicines-preparations, the above persons appear to advertise preparations of unknown origin and effectiveness and potentially dangerous for public health, attributing to them “miraculous” therapeutic properties, for various diseases, expressing here also supposed personal experiences about the alleged their effectiveness.

In addition, in order to make these advertisements even more convincing, they are accompanied by false comments-reviews from “fake” accounts, where and there supposedly positive personal experiences are captured.

In fact, “expendable” websites are used for their promotion, which are constantly renewed (in case of deactivation) while their content is adapted and dynamically changed depending on the country targeted by the perpetrators.

The investigations of the Electronic Crime Prosecution Directorate to deal with this phenomenon are ongoing, in cooperation with foreign police authorities, Europol, Interpol, etc. as these are cases of transnational fraud.

In this context, citizens are advised to be particularly careful, in order not to be deceived in such cases, and in particular:

For frauds involving the provision of investment services:

• Be especially wary when you see advertisements for investment programs on the Internet that promise high returns, even when they appear to be attended by high-profile and well-known people.
• Do not invest your money in services without being absolutely sure of their reliability.
• Be wary of being approached by phone or email from overseas investment companies.
• Look for information on the reliability of the investment companies that approach you.
• Ask for the terms and conditions before making any transaction.
• Before making any provision of your information or investment decision, check whether the company has a license from the Capital Market Commission or the Bank of Greece or a European passport.
• Refer to the Capital Market Commission’s list of warnings for the investing public, at the link http://www.hcmc.gr/el/warnings1
• Be wary if the offer seems too good to be true. We think twice before we click. #ThinkB4UClick
• Contact the Police if you are a victim of fraud.

For scams with supposedly “miracle” drugs:

• The distribution and sale of medicines via the internet is expressly prohibited by the current legislation of our country.
• Buying medicines online poses serious risks to consumers’ health.
• A significant percentage of medicines sold over the internet are fake, falsified, of unknown origin, of dubious quality and effectiveness and very often dangerous to the health of consumers.
• A drug or preparation is safe only when it has been produced and quality-controlled according to the rules overseen by the relevant government agencies, and only when it is available through the legal supply chain. In any other case, its use can seriously endanger the health of the consumer.
• Relevant information on the risks from the online purchase of medicines and nutritional supplements is available on the website of the National Medicines Organization (E.O.F.) at the link http://www.eof.gr

It is reminded that citizens can contact, anonymously or by name, the Electronic Crime Prosecution Directorate for the above cases as well as in order to provide information or to report illegal or indirect acts or activities carried out over the Internet, at the following contact details:

• Telephone: 11188
• By sending an e-mail to: [email protected]
• Via gov.gr in the section Citizen and Everyday Life/ Complaints / Complaints about cybercrimes
• Via twitter: @CyberAlertGR
• Through the application for smart phones: CYBERKID