Foreign national arrested for €60,000 fraud against elderly people in Thessaloniki
A foreign national and alleged member of a criminal organisation was arrested in Thessaloniki for two telephone frauds against elderly women, with proceeds exceeding €60,000.
Foreign national arrested for telephone fraud against elderly people in Thessaloniki and Trikala
A foreign national, accused of being a member of a criminal organisation, was taken into custody on Wednesday morning following the investigation of two fraud cases targeting elderly women in Thessaloniki and Trikala, as reported by businessdaily.gr citing an announcement from the Organised Crime Countering Directorate for Northern Greece.
According to police, the arrested man acted together with at least two unknown persons, forming an organisation aimed at defrauding elderly people for illegal financial gain. The method they used was telephone calls in which they claimed that a relative of the victim was involved in a matter with the authorities. In a second contact, another member of the group impersonated a police officer in order to heighten a climate of fear and persuade the victims to hand over cash, jewellery and valuables.
The two cases
On 2 November 2026, the perpetrators persuaded an elderly woman to place €5,300 and jewellery in a bag, leaving it beneath a rubbish bin outside her home. The items were subsequently removed by the perpetrators.
The next day, 3 November 2026, using the same tactic, another elderly woman handed over a bag containing €15,900, 46 gold sovereigns and jewellery with a total value of approximately €60,000. The bag was given to a taxi driver, who, unaware of its contents, transported it to Thessaloniki to deliver it to the accused.
Arrest and seizure
Through coordinated efforts by the Property Crime Bureau, the accused was located and apprehended in Thessaloniki. During a search of his person, all the money and valuables from both cases were found, as well as two mobile phones. The seized items were returned to their lawful owners.
A case file was opened against him for participation in a criminal organisation and fraud. He will be brought before the competent prosecuting authority.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)