Telephone scams involving supposed electricity company technicians – Alert for consumers
Unknown callers are contacting households, posing as employees of the Electricity Transmission System Operator (ΔΕΔΔΗΕ), and attempting to steal money or valuables. The head of the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network's technical staff has warned that the organisation never carries out remote i
Telephone scams involving supposed electricity company technicians – Alert for consumers
Individuals with malicious intent are making telephone contact with members of the public, impersonating employees of the Electricity Transmission System Operator (ΔΕΔΔΗΕ). Their aim is to persuade victims to hand over cash, jewellery or other valuables. A wave of fraud has intensified recently, with perpetrators primarily targeting older people, although younger individuals are not ruled out.
In an interview with radio station ERT News 105.8, Stephanos Kounouklás, head of the Union of Technicians of the Electricity Company of Greece (ΔΕΗ), made clear that the ΔΕΔΔΗΕ never conducts telephone inspections from unknown numbers. He stressed that the body has issued a related warning and that no employee requests monetary amounts or valuable items over the telephone.
According to Mr Kounouklás, the responsibility of technicians ends strictly at the meter. They do not enter apartments or houses for any reason, neither for faults nor for readings. Staff members carry special service identity cards and wear specific uniforms, which they display in order to avoid any misunderstanding.
Victims are not limited only to elderly people concerned about potential debts. Cases have been recorded of younger individuals and workers who have been deceived. The perpetrators ask questions even about refrigerator consumption or energy-consuming appliances in a household, giving the impression that it is a legitimate inspection.
The head of the technical staff called on the public to remain vigilant. As he stressed, the ΔΕΔΔΗΕ does not settle debts remotely and does not dispatch personnel to collect cash from within residences on the pretext of resolving overdue debts.
Source: ERT News
Source: ERT