The Hellenic Police are issuing instructions to citizens to avoid being scammed by scammers who impersonate relatives or claim to be calling on their behalf.
As he notes, the perpetrators contact their potential victims, mainly under the pretext of causing a traffic accident by a relative of theirs, and demand payment of money.
Since last year, numerous perpetrators have been arrested and a large number of cases have been filed for such fraud cases.
In order to inform citizens, especially the elderly, and to avoid the possibility of being defrauded, it is noted that the scammers use a specific methodology (modus operandi), which is reflected as follows:
The perpetrators, having apparently obtained information about the family situation of the prospective victims, make surprise phone calls to them, sometimes pretending to be hospital doctors, sometimes lawyers or police officers, falsely claiming that a close relative of theirs (usually their child) has caused a traffic accident through his or her fault, resulting in the death or serious injury of a usually minor child.
Furthermore, they claim that in order to avoid the imprisonment of their relative and to free him from the impending criminal consequences, the payment of significant sums of money is required, the amount of which varies in each case, depending on the receptivity and credulity of the prospective victims.
To make themselves more convincing, other associates of theirs intervene in the telephone communication and pretend to be their relative, begging for help and exerting unbearable psychological pressure on the victims.
Afterwards, once the victims have been convinced, they either show up at their home to receive the money, or make an appointment at a place and time predetermined by the perpetrators, near the home.
It is noted that in traffic accidents, the legal and prescribed actions are always followed by the police authorities, under the guidance of the local Prosecutor's Offices, and under no circumstances is there any deviation from them by the payment of sums of money.
The Hellenic Police Headquarters, in the context of preventing and deterring such incidents, recommends that citizens:
Be particularly wary when strangers try to convince you over the phone to pay a sum of money, under the pretext of causing an accident by a relative of yours.
Contact this person by phone to confirm what they are saying. Contact should be made immediately, if possible with another telephone device to avoid the possibility that the "line" is still open by the perpetrators, who did not end the previous call.
Always have available the telephone numbers you should contact in case of emergency (Police, Fire Department, Hospitals, close relatives, etc.).
Do not be persuaded or give in to invitations to meet.
Under no circumstances should you be convinced, even if you speak with a person who was given to you by the perpetrators during your telephone conversation, pretending to be your relative.
In any case, state that you are not going to give money.
Inform your loved ones (of your close and wider family, friends and social environment) and especially the elderly about the above course of action and advise them accordingly, in order to avoid the possibility of their victimization.
Try to retain the characteristics of the perpetrators, if they come into contact with you, as well as the vehicles they are driving (license plate number, vehicle make, color, etc.), to assist the work of law enforcement authorities.
Finally, please immediately inform the police authorities in any case you perceive such behavior, even in the case of an attempted fraud against you.
You can contact the Security Department in your area, while for immediate police intervention, contact the Immediate Action Service by calling the three-digit number 100, or even by sending a free message (SMS) to the same number.
Furthermore, it is noted that in the second half of 2015, a large number of cases of fraud against citizens were investigated, 15 people were arrested (12 of Bulgarian nationality and 3 of Greek nationality) and 14 more were identified, against whom corresponding criminal cases were filed.
Source: www.koutipandoras.gr
