Two 19-year-olds arrested as 'collectors' in telephone fraud scheme in Attica
Two 19-year-old men were arrested on Saturday in Attica whilst attempting to collect jewellery worth approximately €10,000 from a victim of telephone fraud.
Two 19-year-old 'collectors' for criminal organisation in police custody
Police officers from the Economic Crime Prosecution Subdivision of the Organised Crime Countermeasures Directorate arrested two 19-year-olds on Saturday afternoon, members of a criminal organisation that had been defrauding citizens in Attica. According to Dikastiko.gr, the two youths were arrested red-handed at the moment they were attempting to collect jewellery worth a total of approximately €10,000 from a victim's residence.
Their role in the organisation
Police investigation revealed that the two arrested individuals held the role of 'collector' within an organisation with distinct responsibilities for each member. The organisation's activities appear to have extended at least since September. Its purpose was the systematic defrauding of citizens and the acquisition of illegal financial benefit.
The method: fake telecommunications employees and radioactivity threats
Members who took on the role of 'caller' would contact potential victims, presenting themselves as employees of a telecommunications company. They used pretexts such as alleged radioactive leaks posing an immediate danger to victims' lives, in order to persuade them to gather cash and valuables and leave them in an accessible location inside or outside their homes.
Subsequently, the 'collectors' would go to the residences and collect the money and jewellery, citing the need for 'counting or assessment' of the items.
At least two incidents on the same day
From the preliminary investigation, according to the Hellenic Police, the two arrested individuals are implicated in at least one additional similar incident that occurred in the morning of the same day in another area of Attica. One of the two is alleged to have used his private vehicle to transport the 'collectors' to the victims' residences.
During the searches, a passenger vehicle and mobile telephones were seized.
Referral to the prosecutor — investigation ongoing
The two 19-year-olds are expected to be brought before the competent prosecutorial authority. Police investigation is continuing both regarding the possible involvement of other members of the organisation in similar offences and regarding the determination of the total amount of financial damage caused to the victims.
Source: Dikastiko.gr