Zephyri: Criminal organisation behind telephone scams defrauded victims of over €175,000
Two arrests and four suspects in total for fraud impersonating DEDDIE employees — the takings exceed €175,000.
Dismantling of telephone fraud ring in Zephyri — four members in police sights
Two individuals were arrested and two others are included in the case file following a large-scale police operation in Zephyri, Attica, on Thursday afternoon, 3 September 2026. According to Dikastiko.gr, police dismantled an organised ring allegedly carrying out fraud and distinct thefts whilst impersonating DEDDIE employees or accountants, obtaining total illicit proceeds exceeding €175,000.
The two already held in the correctional facility are there for a similar case and are now included in the new case file.
Structure with distinct roles since early August
The police investigation by the Subdirectorate for the Prosecution of Economic Crimes of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime revealed that the organisation operated at least from early August 2026 with a clear hierarchy: "management personnel", "telephone operators" and "collectors".
The two arrested individuals had assumed the role of "telephone operators". They were responsible for establishing and activating telephone connections, seeking potential victims through telephone directories and making telephone contact with them. They falsely presented themselves as DEDDIE employees or accountants, citing pretexts such as the need to declare to the tax authority, insurance of cash or alleged electricity leaks.
In this way they persuaded victims to gather money and valuables and place them in accessible locations inside or outside their homes. Subsequently, members with the role of "collector" would go to addresses and receive or take away the items — sometimes on the pretext of counting and assessing them.
"Telephone centre" with connection to sewage system
During the operation, the location used by the organisation as a "telephone centre" was identified. A particular discovery was a pipe directly connected to the house's sewage system. According to the Hellenic Police, through this the members allegedly disposed of the mobile phones they used, so as to hinder their location by the authorities.
For the same reason, the organisation changed in short time intervals both the location of the "telephone centre" and the telephone connections and numbers it used.
Seizures and estimated takings
Nine mobile phones, SIM cards, a small quantity of valuables and cash amounting to €6,500 were seized from the searches.
The total material benefit from the organisation's activities is estimated to exceed €175,000. To date, the involvement of the suspects in four cases with similar methodology has been established. One of these, carried out in August 2026 in an area of north-eastern Attica, yielded takings of approximately €150,000.
The two arrested individuals were taken to the competent prosecuting authority. The police investigation continues for complete investigation of the organisation's activities and the location of any additional victims and accomplices.
Source: Dikastiko.gr