Three gangs defrauding elderly in Attica busted, 410,000 euros stolen

Greek authorities have dismantled three interconnected criminal organizations that systematically defrauded and robbed elderly people, arresting four core members and identifying at least 18 accomplices. The groups are accused of extorting over 410,000 euros through elaborate scams, primarily targeting vulnerable seniors.

The sophisticated operations, which began in September 2025, spanned across Agrinio, Athens, and Thessaloniki. The perpetrators used their homes in Attica and Argolis as call centers, employing "ghost persons" to make calls and impersonate employees of an electricity company. They fabricated stories about potential explosions due to power leaks to coerce victims into gathering their savings and valuables.

To enhance their credibility, the scammers used pseudonyms and conducted video calls displaying the company's logo. Once they gained the victims' trust, "collectors" from the organization would visit the homes. They employed two main tactics: either convincing the elderly to leave their money and valuables outside their homes, wrapped in foil or in basins, for contactless collection, or distracting them while accomplices entered the house to steal cash and jewelry.

After each transaction, the criminals would immediately deactivate their phones and connections to evade detection. The investigation revealed that the three organizations operated with distinct but related structures, carrying out numerous fraudulent acts. The charges against the 18 identified individuals and eight unknown accomplices include belonging to a criminal organization, fraud, computer fraud, aggravated theft, and money laundering.