From the Hellenic Police press release:
GREEK POLICE HEADQUARTERS
Athens, January 18, 2014
PRESS RELEASE
Thirty-eight (38) cases of fraud against internet users were investigated by the Financial Police & Cybercrime Prosecution Service
A criminal case was opened against two (2) Greek citizens for professional computer fraud
The perpetrators, by advertising holiday "packages" via the internet at tempting prices, obtained an amount of money reaching approximately (50,000) euros
To achieve their goal, they had created virtual travel agency profiles on a social networking website, while to make it difficult to locate them, they frequently renamed the profiles and activated them at specific times of the day
Thirty-eight (38) cases of fraud against internet users were investigated by the Economic Police and Cybercrime Prosecution Service, which concerned the organization and implementation of alleged travel "packages" which were advertised on the internet.
For this case, a criminal case was filed against two (2) Greek citizens, aged 31 and 59, for professional computer fraud.
Specifically, the investigation into the case began following complaints submitted to the Cybercrime Sub-Directorate by internet users who had been deceived by unknown individuals who, using the social networking site "Facebook", advertised travel "packages" at tempting prices. Through telephone communication, they persuaded citizens to pay sums of money for the trips, without however, they taking place.
From all the complaints submitted to the Cybercrime Prosecution Sub-Directorate, it emerged that a total of seven (7) Facebook pages, eight (8) bank accounts and ten (10) telephone numbers were used to commit the fraud.
As part of the months-long police and digital investigation, both the 31-year-old and the 59-year-old were identified as the administrators of the profiles in question and organizers of the alleged travel "packages".
Using a specific modus operandi, the two Greek nationals managed, between 23.07.2013 and 12.12.2013, to extract, from at least thirty-eight (38) citizens, a total amount of (49,795) euros for the fraudulent travel offers they advertised on the internet.
More specifically, in order to achieve their goal, the two perpetrators created virtual travel agency profiles on "Facebook", through which they advertised trips to various foreign destinations (Paris, London, Dubai, etc.) with cheap vacation "packages".
They then collected sums of money from citizens as a down payment for the trips, while then all communication with them was cut off and the trips never took place.
A team of police officers from the Cybercrime Sub-Directorate carried out a surprise search on 15.01.2014 at the home of the 31-year-old in Thessaloniki, during which one (1) internal hard drive, one (1) mobile phone and one (1) SIM card were found and seized, which were sent for laboratory examination to the Criminal Investigation Sub-Directorate of Northern Greece.
Furthermore, a characteristic element of their actions is that they used various methods to make it difficult to locate them, such as deactivating profiles and activating them at specific times of the day, as well as frequently renaming them.
The case file that was formed will be submitted to the Prosecutor of the Court of First Instance of Thessaloniki, while their participation in other similar acts is being investigated, in order to determine the extent of the fraud and their possible involvement.
On the occasion of this specific case, the Sub-Directorate for the Prosecution of Electronic Crime of the Economic Police and Prosecution of Electronic Crime Service, reminds, recommends and urges internet users:
- Be particularly careful in the transactions they make over the internet and carry out electronic transactions on reliable websites that follow reliable security protocols.
- In cases of online transactions and to avoid possible fraud, when purchasing goods or services, or making any type of electronic reservations for travel and excursions, they should check whether the website they are using is valid and choose only known and secure websites for their transactions and purchases.
- It is recommended that they use prepaid cards in their online purchases, so that only the amount that is to be used immediately is available, while at the same time this way gives the possibility of adding money only when necessary, in order to process online transactions securely.
- Do not trust the information and promises of strange and dubious websites.
(More information can be obtained from the official website of the Hellenic Police www.hellenicpolice.gr / Citizen's Guide).
It is recalled that for similar incidents, citizens can contact the Financial Police & Cybercrime Prosecution Service at the following contact details:
- By phone at 11012 and 210-6476464
- By sending an e-mail to ccu@cybercrimeunit.gov.gr , 11012@hellenicpolice.gr
